Modi a shareholder in corruption, says Siddaramaiah

CLP leader Siddaramaiah on Friday said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not a ‘Chowkidar’ but, a shareholder in corruption. Modi is a big liar and BJP candidate from Mysore-Kodagu segment Pratap Simha ranks second.”

Siddaramaiah was addressing an election rally, supporting coalition candidate C H Vijayashankar, at Maharaja’s College Ground, here. He said, “I don’t call him (Modi) ‘Chor’, but he is a shareholder. Modi has spent Rs 1,690 crore on 84 foreign trips. Being a Prime Minister, one should visit the villages. But, Modi failed to do so. Foreign trips and ‘Mann Ki Baat’ are the only achievements of Modi in the last five years.”

Claiming that Modi protected the interest of Vijay Mallya, Ambanis and Adanis, Siddaramaiah said that today Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is under loss because of Modi, who promoted Jio. “Modi had promised of doubling the income of farmers and assured of eradicating unemployment. But, what has he done? Modi and BJP have looted Rs 30,000 crore in the Rafale jet deal,” he said.

Bengaluru-Mysuru NH

Charging MP Pratap Simha for claiming that he is responsible for the development of Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway, Siddaramaiah said, “It was Oscar Fernandes, who approved to upgrade Bengaluru-Mysuru state highway to National Highway, as Union Minister for Surface Transport. Simha has no role in the highway project.”

“Simah’s contribution to Mysuru and Kodagu is nil. The Union government did not sanction a single rupee, when hundreds of people in Kodagu lost houses due to floods,” he said.

‘Hitler’s rule’

Siddaramaiah also charged Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde and BJP candidate from Bangalore South Tejasvi Surya for their statements against Indian Constitution and about B R Ambedkar. While Hegde speaks of changing the Constitution, Surya gives a call to demolish Ambedkar statues. There will be Hitler’s rule if Modi is re-elected, he said.

Siddaramaiah condemned the ongoing Income Tax (I-T) raids in the state and said, “BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa had offered Rs 30 crore to 20 MLAs of the JD(S) and the Congress. Despite complaints, no official took action against the BJP leaders such as K S Eshwarappa and D V Sadanandagowda.”

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda called upon JD(S) as well as Congress workers to work promptly to ensure the victory of Congress candidates in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. Minister G T Devegowda was present.