Modi, Shah anti-democratic, says Cong leader Vijayshankar

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mysuru, former minister C H Vijayshankar, who joined the Congress party from the BJP recently, alleged that the PM is anti-democratic and against social justice.

He criticised that the leadership of Modi and BJP president Amit Shah is a threat to democracy. In a press conference, here, Vijayshankar said that the PM has not given an opportunity to the backward classes and the minorities in his cabinet and it is an injustice to the people of the communities in the country. "The Union government is neglecting the common people and farmers. Modi government is the first to levy service tax on agriculture produces," he said.

"Modi, who entered the national politics six years back, and Shah, who is in national politics for the last three years, have sidelined senior leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. Modi has failed to strengthen the programmes such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All Movement), pioneered by Vajpayee as prime minister," he said.

He said, "Modi never allowed or took Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to foreign nations and made her only draft letters. Is Sushma a clerk? While Modi is controlling the government, Shah is controlling the party leaders."

Anti-democratic

"At a time, when a few Union ministers are speaking against the Indian Constitution and are stating that they will change the Constitution, Modi is silent. The Union government has not extended an invitation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the Union government programmes scheduled to be held in Mysuru on February 19. This is an example for their anti-democratic stand," Vijayshankar said.

Modi's visit a gimmick

Vijayshankar said that Modi is visiting Mysuru for the election campaign. "He had promised of developing Mysuru on the lines of Paris. Even though 17 MPs of the BJP have been elected from Karnataka, Modi has contributed very little to the development of the state. The people of the nation had huge expectations from Modi. But, the PM has failed to keep his promises made before going for the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. He had promised to make the country terrorist and corruption free. He had assured of bringing back black money from foreign banks. However, he has done nothing even after four years in office," he said.

Congress district president B J Vijaykumar, city president R Murthy, and Karnataka Women's Commission former chairperson Manjula Manasa were present.