“The old seat of the dynast is under threat (Naamdaar ki purani seat khatre main padh gayi hai). If the plight of the leader is so bad, what about his party,” asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taunting AICC president Rahul Gandhi who decided to contest from a second seat—Wayanad in Kerala.
Modi, who was addressing the 'Vijay Sankalp' rally in Mysuru on Tuesday, further said the people of Kodagu and Chamarajanagar are aware that Rahul Gandhi is contesting from their neighbouring constituency.
"If he wanted to contest from the south, he could have fought from Karnataka as his own party is in power here. But he sure knows the mood of voters here and he does not trust the JD(S). Perhaps, Sonia Gandhi, who had backstabbed Deve Gowda when he was the prime minister, was afraid that he would take his revenge by defeating her son," alleged Modi.
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Taking up the Sabarimala issue, Modi said, "Mysuru is an integral part of Indian ethos. Likewise, our pilgrim centre Sabarimala and the BJP share the same sentiment on the issue as the rest of India. The faith, traditions and rituals must be protected under the Constitution. But what did the Congress and its allies do in Sabarimala? Rahul Gandhi refused to comment on the stand of left parties on the issue. We need to be cautious of this brand of politics."
Alleging that the Congress party reduced the chief minister of Karnataka to a "punching bag", Modi said the Congress was indulging in blackmail politics. "The family first politics, dynastic politics and corrupt politics of the Congress has outraged people across the country. They have been saying 'gareebi hatao' (remove poverty). But now even the poor are saying, if Congress is removed, poverty too will vanish. They now abuse the middle class too, calling young professionals 'selfish'. But let me tell you, as long as there is chowkidar, honest tax payers will be respected," said Modi, adding that the grand old party had given the nation 2G scam, but his government gave affordable smart phones and 4G data.
Modi remembered actor-turned-politician late Ambareesh and endorsed the candidature of his wife Sumalatha Ambareesh, who is taking on Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Gowda in Mandya. "What Ambareesh has done is in the hearts of people. Along with Sumalatha ji, what Ambareesh has done for Kannada language and culture needs to be lauded and we stand with the people in supporting her. Each of your vote will strengthen the chowkidar," said Modi, exhorting first-time voters to cast their vote to install a majority government.
Slamming the Congress manifesto, Modi said, "How can a party with a sole agenda and vision to dislodge Modi have the common man's interest in mind? All the grand alliance partners chant the same slogan. Your love is giving them sleepless nights”.
