'Sidda-Rupaiah Sarkar' vs 'Gabbar Singh gang': How PM Modi, Rahul squared off in Karnataka campaign

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: May 3, 2018, 07.34 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi today led the high-decibel campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the May 12 assembly election. Here's a look at the charges they traded, the digs they landed and the claims they made to bolster their parties' chances in the high-stakes poll battle:

PM Narendra Modi

Rahul Gandhi

On corruption

Not even a single work is possible without corruption and bribery. Look at rising illegal mining in the state. Karnataka has a 'Sidda-Rupaiah Sarkar'. It has created a debt-burden for the state.

There was a concept of a 'Steel bridge' in Bengaluru. Congress government turned it into 'Steal bridge'. They did nothing to check and put an end to corruption in the state.

Bengaluru has smart citizens. It has the potential to become a smart city. But why funds which Centre allocated to Karnataka for developing smart cities remains unutilized.
"You brought Gabbar Singh Tax but this time you have gone even further. You have fielded the entire gang of Gabbar Singh. There is Gabbar, Sambha, Kalia, and all of them.... Reddy brothers gang, which was in jail....You are trying to get them inducted into Assembly, and you tell to the country that you are fighting against corruption.

Nirav Modi ran off with Rs 30,000 crore. What have you done on that front?

In Rafale (deal), you snatched contract from (public sector) HAL. The Aircraft which was to cost Rs 700 crore, you bought for Rs 1500 crore.

Divisive politics

The Congress does vote-bank politics. They divide people on the grounds of caste. They divide people on the lines of dalits, Muslims. They are insensitive towards the tribal communities and the OBCs.
The hate-mongering BJP has launched a systematic attack upon Karnataka's people, its history, language and Basavanna's ideology. But it won't win.

Women empowerment

Congress used to term us as 'Mahila Virodhi'. But see, now we have a Defence Minister who is a woman and she is a member in the Parliament from Karnataka itself.

Women safety is one of the biggest concerns in Karnataka. Crimes against women are on the rise under the Congress government.

Why is the Congress government not sensitive towards women's issues? Why are they not even spending funds for construction of toilets?
While Karnataka worked to offer free education to the girl child, in PM Modi's Gujarat, people have to struggle to afford education for their children because of blatant privatisation. Congress party teaches girls free from KG to post-graduate, while 90 per cent colleges have been privatized in Modi ji's Gujarat.

Modi ji had said, 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'; but now the whole country has come up with a new slogan 'Beti Bachao from BJP's MLAs'

On jobs

The talented youth of Karnataka transformed the state into Startup capital but Congress government turned it into a pot-hole capital.
PM Modi has failed to fulfil his promise of creating 2 crore jobs every year and has thus betrayed the trust of the youth.

On Bengaluru

People of Bengaluru made the city a Silicon Valley. In last 5 years the computer capital has been turned into a crime capital under the Congress government.

Bengaluru is admired as a ‘Garden City.’ But the Karnataka government is wanting to turn this into a garbage city. They are showing no concern for the city’s needs
Back when people from the BJP were opposing computers, the people of Karnataka gave the computer to the whole country. The entire country looks up to Karnataka's progress and draws inspiration from it.

Serving the people

Why does the Congress government in Karnataka not answer what they have done in the last five years for the state's people? They keep asking - Modi Ji what did you do?
The Congress has delivered on its promises while the Prime Minister has been taking credit for it.

PM Modi should tell the people of Karnataka about his plans for the state. Personal attacks won't win him votes.
RELATED

From around the web

More from The Times of India

From the Web

More From The Times of India