Karnataka elections: Modi failed in ‘achhe din’ promise, says Sonia Gandhi in first rally in 2 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intolerant and his policies have made people go hungry, said Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday as he joined her party’s campaign in Karnataka and addressed her first election rally in nearly two years.

Gandhi’s speech accused Modi of failing in his promise of bring “achhe din” (good days) to the people and disfavouring Karnataka.

“All states that suffered drought were given compensation [by centre], Karnataka was provided with the least. This was like rubbing salting into the wounds of farmers. I ask Modi ji, is this your sabka saath, sabka vikas?” she said in Vijayapura district.

“Modi ji par Congress mukt bharat ka junoon hai, unhe iska bhoot laga hai, Congress mukt bharat to chhoriye, vo apne saamne kisi ko bardaash nahi kar sakte,” said Gandhi [PM Modi is obsessed with removing Congress from the country. But leave aside Congress, he can’t tolerate anyone in front of him].

“I’ll be happy if his speeches can end hunger of the country but speeches cannot fill empty stomachs.”

Karnataka is among the four states that Congress rules still after a series of election setbacks that started in 2014 and the party has deployed its top leaders to retain power. Congress president Rahul Gandhi earlier on Tuesday said in Bangalore he was “pretty confident” that Modi will not be re-elected as prime minister in the 2019 elections.

Modi, who spoke hours before Sonia Gandhi in Vijayapura, accused the Congress of practising divisive politics. “Congress believes in the policy of divide and rule... divide on the basis of caste and religion....make brother fight brother. But people of this land of Basaveshwara will not allow it to happen,” he said.