Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of trying to divide the Lingayat community by raking up the separate religion status issue for political survival.
“The Congress had been trying to use the issue (separate religion status) whenever it was facing an existential crisis. It (the Congress) tried to use the issue as a poll plank during the 2018 Assembly elections in Karnataka,” he said while addressing a massive rally.
“Is it possible for siblings to treat the mother’s milk in two different ways,” asked Modi. “Likewise, it is not possible to divide or split the Lingayat community. But the Congress is trying to divide the community. A Congress minister had been entrusted with the responsibility of splitting the community.”
Citing the feud between M B Patil and D K Shivakumar, Modi urged voters to be wary of the Congress. “The ploy is evident in the letter written by the minister. Two of their ministers are fighting over the issue. Be wary of the Congress’ games,” he said.
The Congress had burnt its fingers in backing the separate religion tag for the community during last year’s Assembly polls.
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