Belagavi (Karnataka), April 28 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during an election rally in Belagavi, Karnataka, on Sunday. Addressing a charged crowd, PM Modi criticised the ruling party in the southern state for what he termed as its failure to maintain law and order citing incidents in Belagavi, Chikkodi, and Hubballi.
Accusing the Congress of prioritising appeasement politics over the welfare of citizens, especially women, PM Modi highlighted instances where he alleged the Congress government's negligence, such as the handling of the Neha Hiremath case of brutal murder in a college campus in Hubballi.
"Ever since the Congress government came to power in Karnataka, the situation of law and order in the entire state has deteriorated significantly. What happened here in Belagavi with a tribal sister, what happened in Chikkodi with a Jain monk, is shameful.
"What happened with our daughter, Neha, on a college campus in Hubballi shook the entire nation. Her family kept demanding action, but the pressure of appeasement has prevailed on the Congress government," he said addressing a colossal rally here.
PM Modi further accused the Congress of disregarding national security concerns and engaging with the banned organization, Popular Front of India (PFI), for electoral purposes. He cited the alleged failure of the Congress to address a bomb blast incident at a café in Bengaluru, suggesting a lack of seriousness in handling security issues.
The Prime Minister did not hold back in his criticism, accusing the Congress of defending what he described as an anti-national organization like PFI, solely for electoral gains, particularly in the Wayanad constituency of Kerala where Rahul Gandhi is contesting.
"When there was a bomb blast in a cafe in Bengaluru, Congress did not take it seriously. Not only this, Congress has used PFI for votes... which is an anti-national organisation that gives shelter to terrorism and which has been banned by the Modi government. Congress is engaged in defending such a terrorist organization PFI just to win one seat, Wayanad," he said.
PM Modi took a swipe at the INDI Alliance for allegedly misleading citizens on the issue of EVMs and VVPATs, citing the Supreme Court's ruling that shattered their aspirations.
He accused the Congress of spreading falsehoods about HAL, opposing Made in India COVID vaccines during the pandemic, and attempting to tarnish India's democracy globally under the guise of EVMs, only to be rebuked by the Supreme Court. He demanded an apology from Congress leaders who had propagated misinformation about EVMs.
In a fervent address, PM Modi alleged that the Congress's fixation on appeasement politics blinds them to the nation's developmental strides and undermines its democratic fabric. He demanded an apology from the party for what he described as its role in conspiring against the country's democratic foundations.
He lambasted the Congress for its apparent disregard for India's achievements under the NDA government, suggesting a sense of shame on their part regarding the nation's progress in the past 10 years.
PM Modi aimed his criticism squarely at the Congress party, particularly its prominent leader, Rahul Gandhi. He accused the Congress of overlooking the contributions of India's historical figures, including kings and maharajas, while selectively exploiting historical narratives for political gain.
During his address, PM Modi singled out Rahul Gandhi, referring to him as "The prince of Congress", and chastised him for purportedly disregarding the legacies of India's kings and maharajas.
Modi alleged that the Congress engaged in vote bank politics by criticising certain historical figures while shying away from condemning others, such as nawabs, kings, and sultans like Aurangzeb, known for their controversial actions like temple destruction.
"Congress’ shehzaada (Rahul Gandhi) says that the kings and emperors of India were tyrants, they snatched the land of the poor. He insulted personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Kittur Rani Chennamma. Their governance and their patriotism still inspire all of us. The statement of the Congress’ shehzaada is a carefully crafted statement for appeasement.
"They mentioned Rajas and Maharajas, but they don't even mention the atrocities committed by the nizams-nawabs, and sultans in Indian history. The Congress does not remember the atrocities of Aurangzeb who destroyed hundreds of our temples, desecrated them," he said.
The Prime Minister also launched a direct assault on the Congress party, highlighting historical contributions overlooked by the opposition. He questioned the party's acknowledgment of figures like the king of Banaras and Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, who played significant roles in India's cultural and educational heritage.
"These were the great kings who recognized the talent of Dr. Babasaheb and sent him abroad to study. The Congress does not see their contribution. The mentality of appeasement of Congress is now openly visible to the country. And this mentality is also reflected in the Congress manifesto," he said.
Shifting focus to women empowerment, PM Modi drew inspiration from historical figures like Kittur Rani Chennamma and announced initiatives such as opening army frontiers for women and establishing Sainik schools for girls.
The rally in Belagavi marked the beginning of what promises to be a charged election campaign in Karnataka, with PM Modi setting the tone with his strong criticism of the Congress party and his vision for the state's future under BJP governance.
During his address, PM Modi also highlighted the BJP-NDA government's efforts to reform the Indian judicial system, emphasizing initiatives aimed at prioritizing justice and strengthening laws related to terrorism and atrocities.
He underscored the removal of colonial-era laws from the criminal justice system and mentioned the upcoming implementation of the 'Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam', which will introduce new provisions for electronic evidence.
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