'Shahi parivar' wants to make Karnataka no.1 ATM: PM Modi tears into Congress

The people in Karnataka should be careful about Congress and JD(S), he said.

Coming down heavily on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the opposition party wants to make Karnataka "No. 1 ATM" for its "Shahi Parivar" (royal family) in Delhi.

During the election rally at Kolnad in Mulki, Karnataka on Wednesday, he said, "Congress, which is eating 85 per cent commission in welfare schemes, will take Karnataka on a reverse gear. The people in Karnataka should be careful about Congress and JD(S)."

Stating that BJP wants to make Karnataka number one state in the country, he said, "India is the fifth largest economy in the world. To reach the third place, I need the support of the people of Karnataka. Without the people of Karnataka, I cannot go forward. May 10 election will decide the future."

The PM asked the mammoth gathering to visit every house and tell them that Modi had come all the way from Delhi to Mulki and has sent his 'pranam'. "Will you send my regards to every house?” he asked.

Also read: Congress expects no fallout over promise to ban Bajrang Dal in Karnataka election manifesto

“If there is instability in Karnataka, your (people's) future will also be unstable. Congress believes in 'divide and rule' policy. Congress is an enemy of peace and development and appeasement policy is the party's identity,” he added.

“Across the country, wherever people want peace and prosperity, they defeated the Congress. The whole nation respects the Army and we are proud of them, but Congress insults our soldiers,” he alleged.

He said PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and Matsya Siri Yojana were implemented for the benefit of the fishermen. "The BJP is committed to the welfare of the fishermen and their family. Till 2014, inland fisheries and aquaculture production was 60 lakh tonne. The production has increased to more than 120 lakh tonne in the last nine years," he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress manifesto that proposed a ban on Bajrang Dal in Karnataka echoed in the BJP election campaign. Modi began his speech with the slogan ‘Bajrangbali ki jai’ and concluded his speech by appealing people gathered at the venue to shout ‘Bajrangbali ki jai’ thrice.