PM Modi's words are worth nothing, says Siddaramaiah

"Prime Minister Modi's words are worth nothing. I have not come across a PM who speaks so lowly," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was in Koppal on Wednesday. 

"Before becoming PM, he used to refer to himself as a chowkidar (guard). Where was this chowkidar (PM) when Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi fled the country? They have fled with the protection of Prime Minister Modi," the chief minister alleged in response to the PM's statement that the Karnataka government is a 'seedha rupaiya sarkar'.

"The government is not obliged to give accounts to BJP national president Amit Shah," Siddaramaiah said. "By submitting the budget, we have presented accounts to the people."  

Siddaramaiah mocked the PM for seating BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa "who has taken bribe by cheque next to him, and accusing others of corruption". 

"How can Yeddyurappa, who as CM, refused to waive farmers' loans and ordered a shoot-at-sight on farmers at Haveri, be farmer-friendly?" asked Siddaramaiah.

"When farmers asked for a loan waiver, Yeddyurappa had reacted saying that the BJP did not have a currency note printing machine," he recalled.   

PM dubs Siddaramaiah govt 'seeda Rupaiya (money first) sarkar'

Minister Vinay Kulkarni had promised Mahadayi activists an audience with Rahul Gandhi but he has not called for a meeting. The AICC president himself was not aware of this, so Rahul left for the airport without meeting them, Siddaramaiah said in response to questions.