Karnataka Assembly Polls: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at the latter’s manifesto at the Congress on Tuesday, saying the old party had “decided to close Bajrangbali”.
Addressing a rally in Karnataka’s Hospet district ahead of the May 10 assembly polls, PM Modi said, “Congress is sitting on a bunch of guarantees in Karnataka these days. The party that has lost the trust of the common people and they can only lie in the name of guarantees. Congress promised to eliminate poverty from the country, but failed to do so. On the other hand, Congress leaders have become millionaires and billionaires…”
PM Modi’s remarks came on a day when the old party announced its vision for Karnataka if it comes to power in the state.
In its manifesto, the party said it would ban Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), while retaining its membership in the People’s Front of India (PFI).
According to the party, Bajrang Dal will be restricted in the state for obstructing peace and fomenting communal disharmony. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress of pursuing “politics of appeasement” while supporting the Bajrang Dal side.
“Politics of Reconciliation”
At another rally held in Chitradurga, the Prime Minister said, “Congress has a history of appeasing terror and terrorists. When the Batla House clash took place in Delhi, the Congress’s biggest leader was teary-eyed after the news of the killing of the terrorists. When surgical and air strikes occurred, Congress questioned the capability of the nation’s forces.
“You saw in Karnataka how the Congress supported terror. Congress has left Karnataka at the mercy of terrorists. It is the BJP that broke the back of terror and stopped the game of appeasement,” he added.
Also Read: Karnataka Assembly Polls: From free electricity to job creation; The most important elements of the congress manifesto
BJP Leaders Object Ban
The bid to ban Bajrang Dal is becoming controversial as BJP leaders are objecting to it, while the old party is firmly standing by it.
BJP leaders in the neighboring states bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also see the Congress move as a “politics of appeasement”. Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai said the old party will “definitely” lose Karnataka assembly voters on May 10.
“Bajrang Dal is being equated with the banned Islamic organization People’s Front of India (PFI). They pursue a policy of reconciliation. After publishing their manifesto, it is clear that Congress will lose big on May 10. There is nothing progressive in the manifesto,” he said.
Congress in revenge for Bajrang Dal ban: Himanta Sarma
BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Congress has announced restrictions on Bajrang Dal as revenge.
“PFI is already banned. The Siddaramaiah government withdrew the PFI cases. So they say they are banning Bajrang Dal to appease Muslims. Congress says PFI can’t say we are taking revenge. The Congress manifesto looks like the manifesto of PFI and fundamentalist Muslim organizations.”
Leave a Reply