Modi morally unfit to be PM, says Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said Narendra Modi was "morally unfit" to hold the post of India's prime minister.

In a stinging rebuttal to Modi's speech in Bengaluru on Sunday, in which he accused the Congress of running a corrupt government, Siddaramaiah claimed that Karnataka was the best-performing state across various sectors.

"Modi's speech was filled with a bunch of lies against our government. He has made baseless and irresponsible accusations," Siddaramaiah told a press conference here.

"What moral right does Modi have to point fingers at our government when he had B S Yeddyurappa next to him? Modi should have asked Yeddyurappa what happened when the BJP was in power here," he said.

It is "shameless" for a prime minister to stoop to the level of Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah said.

"Modi misled the people of Karnataka with his lies. It is a big disrespect to the chair of the prime minister."

Siddaramaiah also brought up the 2002 Godhra riots, in reference to Modi's remarks that Karnataka's law and order situation had deteriorated to 'ease in murdering'.

"How many people died in Godhra? He (Modi), was the chief minister then. More than 2,000 people were burnt alive," Siddaramaiah said, pointing out that it was BJP-ruled states that topped the list of crime-prone states.

Flanked by key ministers of his Cabinet at the press conference, Siddaramaiah charged that Modi was "supporting and facilitating corruption" while saying that the Centre was yet to appoint a Lokpal.

"For nine years, Gujarat did not have a Lokayukta when Modi was CM due to fear that corruption would be unearthed."