Pics: Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (ANK)
Bantwal, Apr 27: All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi addressed a huge gathering of thousands at Golden Ground here on Friday, April 27 as part of the seventh phase of his Karnataka tour ahead of the assembly elections.
Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi said, "Today we have released the Congress election manifesto. Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds ‘Mann Ki Baat’ every month, but the manifesto we released today is people's ‘Mann ki Baat’. It was not prepared by two or three people in a closed room, but was prepared under the leadership of senior leader Veerappa Moily who discussed with stakeholders, industrialists, farmers, labourers. We have prepared a people's manifesto.
"We have fulfilled 95% of the promises made in the last manifesto. We delivered as we promised. Every individual is identified with his voice, but there is no weight and value to a voice that lies," he said.
"Farmers' loans have been waived off by the state government, free education is being provided to girls, Indira Canteens have been set up, free rice provided to the poor. We have delivered what we promised," he said.
Targeting PM Modi, he said, "Modi promised to give Rs 15 lac to everyone, but no one has received it. He spoke about ending corruption, but has given ticket to Reddy brothers and shares stage with the most corrupt Yeddyurappa. Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah has converted Rs 50,000 into crores of rupees, but our ‘chowkidaar’ remains silent. Modi, Amit Shah, and Jaitley do not waive waive loans of farmers, but write off loans of high profile people. Farmers’ suicide does not bother them. When I urged Siddaramaiah, he waived farmers’ loans within 10 days. One more famous slogan of Modi is ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padao’ but now we are in situation of ‘Beti Bachao’ from BJP leaders.
"Modi should read books of Basavanna and understand it. So far, he has not delivered a single promise. Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes were banned forcing people to stand in long queues. Only high profile people turned their black money into white. Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya escaped from the country looting people’s money, but no action has been taken against them.
"The opposition has been instigating hatred between religions, castes, and regions. But our manifesto is for all regions, religions, castes and districts. We have delivered as we said, and will continue to do so," he said.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah said, "On May 12, people have to reject communal politics and bless Congress. We are the only party to deliver what we said and we are proud of it. We will fulfill the promises as mentioned in today’s manifesto. BJP released their manifesto in 2008 and did not fulfill even 20% of its promises. They only became famous in looting people’s money. The ones who looted from 2008 to 2013, like Yeddyurappa, Reddy, Eshwarappa, Shettar, Somashekar, Sriramulu and Shobha have come together.
"Justice Santhosh Hegde too mentioned in his report about Yeddyurappa, Reddy and Sriramulu and their corrupt ways and how they looted the state. It was also said in it that the republic of Bellary was in fear. Should we vote for such people who have served jail terms? We should stand against communal politics and win all the eight constituencies in this region," he said.
Congress leaders Dr G Parameshwar, Ivan D’Souza, KC Venugopal and others were present.