PM Narendra Modilaunched a scathing attack on the Congress during his last campaign rally in Karnataka, ahead of the May 10 Assembly polls.
The PM on Sunday accused the Congress of openly advocating for ‘separating’ Karnataka from India.
The PM alleged that the ‘disease’ of the ‘tukde-tukde (bits and pieces) gang’ had reached the Congress’s top brass.
‘When it comes to working against India’s interests, Congress’s ‘royal family’ will be at the forefront. I want to speak about a serious issue here, I want to say it as there is a lot of pain in my heart. This country can never forgive such a game. This family, to influence the politi in the country, is encouraging foreign forces to interfere,’ PM Modi claimed.
Addressing a public meeting in Mysuru district, he accused the Congress of secretly meeting foreign diplomats to indulge in activities that insult India’s sovereignty.
‘Not only Karnataka, I want to tell this to the entire country with a lot of pain that in this election Congress’s ‘shahi parivar (royal family)’ yesterday came to Karnataka and said that they want to protect the ‘sovereignty’ of Karnataka.
‘Karnataka’s sovereignty, you know what is the meaning of it? They have sat in Parliament for so many years, they have taken oath on India’s Constitution, and they say this… When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India,’ he claimed.
Asking the people whether they approved of it or would they punish Congress for such a statement, the Prime Minister claimed that it meant the Congress was openly advocating for separating Karnataka from India.
PM Modi also accused the Congress of insulting Kannada fighters who fought for India’s independence and insulting the patriotism of crores of Kannadigas with such statements.
Further accusing the Congress of creating a rift between the states and spreading “communal fire”, the Prime Minister claimed that whenever the party did such things, the people of India united to defeat them.
PM Modi said he was visiting the famous Srikanteshwara temple here dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Thanking the people for their support, PM Modi said it was his last programme in this election campaign and would leave for Delhi after.
“I’m ending my campaign here. Now you take the baton,” he urged people.
May 10 is when voters in Karnataka exercise their franchise, with results out on the May 13.