Former chief minister Siddaramaiah said Hindutva does not satisfy hunger pangs but secular ideals of Congress had helped Karnataka achieve a status of hunger-free state.
He was addressing a gathering at a campaign rally, organised ahead of Lok Sabha byelection here, on Thursday.
“The previous Congress government had ensured food to all irrespective of caste, creed, class and religion,” he stressed.
He dared BJP president B S Yeddyurappa to a debate on his false assurances made to the people. Siddaramaiah charged that Yeddyurappa was not concerned about the welfare of farmers.
He recollected how BJP veterans had an opportunity to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive the farm loans in nationalised banks. “But they maintained a dignified silence even as I requested them to hold talks,” he claimed.
He blamed the father-son (Yeddyurappa-Raghavendra) as being responsible for the elections. "They should have common sense on seeking permission from voters before stepping down."
The former chief minister expressed surprise on the Congress debacle in the coastal belt.
He did not rule out EVMs being manipulated by BJP workers in many areas.
Highlighting BJP’s communal agenda, Siddaramaiah said the coalition government’s priority was to keep the communal party away from power.
He urged voters to reject BJP and welcome Congress-JD(S) candidate Madhu Bangarappa, a secular and a socialist leader, representing them in the Parliament.
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