From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Mysuru, Apr 1: Internal surveys conducted by the ruling BJP at the Centre have predicted that it is unlikely to win even 200 seats and hence Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders are bragging about winning 400 seats, claimed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday.
Speaking to media persons in Mysuru, the Chief Minister criticised the Modi regime of trying to constantly fool the people and warned that it will reduced to being foolish.
“The voters are smart and they know how to assess the political situation. It is not easy to always fool the people by making tall claims and not keeping any of its promises,’’ he said.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the Modi regime is famous for its “zero development” and pointed out that the BJP has been continuously trying to take the people for a ride and make them fools.
The Chief Minister predicted that the ruling Congress party will definitely win 20 out of the 28 seats in the State and BJP knows this quite well. Therefore, the BJP is making tall claims of winning all the 28 seats, he said.
Answering questions, the Chief Minister said his son and former MLA Yatindra Siddaramaiah had described Home Minister Amit Shah as “goonda and rowdy” based on the report submitted by the CBI to the court and the statement is borne by facts and documents. “Yatindra has not made the statement merely to malign Amit Shah,’’ he claimed.
Siddaramaiah said BJP and Modi-Shah along with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaram had criticised the Congress party’s guarantees and had warned that it will lead to financial bankruptcy of the State exchequer. After seeing the results following the implementation of the guarantees, Modi and BJP have started talking about “Modi ki Guarantee.”
“Where is the Acche Din that Modi promised so grandiosely,” he asked and pointed out that the diesel price has jumped from Rs 47 per litre in 2014 to Rs 97 now and petrol prices had jumped from Rs 77 per litre to Rw 105 per litre now. The Modi regime reduced the LPG prices prior to elections, which was barely Rs 414 per cylinder under UPA rule.
Siddaramaiah asked why the Modi regime has not slashed the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG when international prices of crude oil came down and where is the Acche Din.
“When I speak the truth about the injustice to Karnataka and Kannadigas under the Modi rule and the gross in justice to the State in the devolution of funds by the Centre, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda describes it as arrogance and vows to break my pride,’’ Siddaramaiah said and asserted that he will continue to criticise the Centre under Modi rule and attack the BJP.
The Chief Minister declared: “I can’t compromise and refrain from speaking the truth just because Deve Gowda has taken his JDS under the BJP and BJP-JDS have become allies.”
Siddaramaiah asked the JDS supremo as to whether he had not vowed to be reborn a Muslim in the next life and did he not publicly declare that he will quit the country if Modi becomes the Prime Minister. “If I repeat what Deve Gowda said, does it become arrogance and pride?” he said wanted to know if Deve Gowda had not said that he has intimate and close relationship with Modi.
“If Deve Gowda really has close relations with Modi, let him ensure that Modi gives the necessary approvals for Mekedatu project, which is now being supported by Deve Gowda. He should also ensure that the injustice to Karnataka in the devolution of funds and release of funds for drought relief
are given,” he said.
The Chief Minister said instead of merely aligning with BJP for political gains, Deve Gowda should fight for the rights of people of Karnataka. BJP-JDS alliance merely for the sake of winning in Lok Sabha will never work, he said and warned that Karnataka’s people are happy with the Congress government and its guarantees.
He urged the Congress leaders and workers to ensure the Congress candidates are elected from Mysuru and Chamarajanagara Lok Sabha seats.