JOIN USSounding the poll bugle, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Karnataka polls would change the electoral fortunes for the Congress and put the party back on the winning track.
Exuding confidence at the ‘Jan Akrosh Rally’ at the sprawling Ramlila Grounds here, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of spreading lies and hatred and painting the NDA government as “anti-people”.
“The Congress surpassed the expectations in Gujarat Assembly election and you all will witness the change in Karnataka and then see what happens in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The Congress will win every election from now on and will also emerge victorious in 2019,” Gandhi said to a rapturous crowd gathered despite the blistering heat.
On the stage were UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, senior leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, Amarinder Singh, V Narayanasamy among others.
He also sought to boost the morale of the party workers by praising them as “sher ka baccha (tiger cubs) and “soldiers of truth” who would challenge and defeat the “hatred and lies” spread by Modi and the RSS.
He also attacked the Prime Minister for having “double standards” on tackling corruption, “ruining the economy”, for rising unemployment, undermining institutions such as Parliament and judiciary and failing to ensure safety of women. “In Karnataka, Modi comes and talks about fighting corruption. He is flanked on one side by B S Yeddyurappa, who was jailed for corruption and on the other side by four ministers also facing corruption charges,” Gandhi said.
He said the prime minister’s words carried no weight as they do not reflect the truth.
“India is a country of many faiths and religions. The foundations of every faith are based on truth. When we bow our heads to Gods, we bow our heads to the truth... but when Modi speaks, people have to search hard for shreds of truth within his speeches,” Gandhi said.
He also accused Modi of not standing up to China during his two-day visit for the informal summit with President Xi Jinping. “His (the Prime Minister’s) speeches are full of lies... Modi did not speak a single word on Doklam during his visit to China. What kind of prime minister is he,” Gandhi asked.
Gandhi also accused the Modi government of weakening the judiciary and the Election Commission. “For the first time in 70 years, Supreme Court judges came before the people with folded hands to seek justice for themselves. Modi was silent. They took the name of Justice Loya. They said the court was under pressure, but Modi remained silent,” he said.