<p class="title">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was addressing a gathering at a campaign rally, organised ahead of Lok Sabha byelection here, on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The previous Congress government had ensured food to all irrespective of caste, creed, class and religion,” he stressed. </p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The former chief minister expressed surprise on the Congress debacle in the coastal belt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He did not rule out EVMs being manipulated by BJP workers in many areas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Highlighting BJP’s communal agenda, Siddaramaiah said the coalition government’s priority was to keep the communal party away from power.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
<p class="title">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was addressing a gathering at a campaign rally, organised ahead of Lok Sabha byelection here, on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The previous Congress government had ensured food to all irrespective of caste, creed, class and religion,” he stressed. </p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The former chief minister expressed surprise on the Congress debacle in the coastal belt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He did not rule out EVMs being manipulated by BJP workers in many areas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Highlighting BJP’s communal agenda, Siddaramaiah said the coalition government’s priority was to keep the communal party away from power.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
