Modi govt undid Cong’s good work, says Sonia

In her first election rally in two years, former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi charged the NDA government with derailing all the good work done by the previous two UPA regimes even as she launched a personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Choosing Vijayapura to end her “election convention” hibernation, Sonia said, “During the last four years, the only task that the Modi government indulged in was derailing the good work done by the Congress.”

Sonia, draped in a grey saree, told the well attended rally that it was the Siddaramaiah government which made Karnataka the No. 1 state in the country, started Indira Canteens and waived crop loans availed by 22 lakh farmers.

“But the BJP has been opposing the pro-people policies of our government. It is not that the BJP wants to make India Congress-free. It is that they cannot tolerate anyone,” she said.

Training her guns on Modi, Sonia said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had gone to New Delhi to seek relief for farmers who had been reeling under severe drought for the last four years. “But Modi did not give audience. By doing so, he has not just insulted the chief minister but the entire farmer fraternity in the state,” she added.

Further, while the NDA government was providing aid to states, Karnataka had been denied the same, she said. “Is this your sab ka saath sab is vikas?” she asked.

The Congress leader said Modi was a great orator. “He speaks well, but if it feeds the stomach of the poor, let him speak more,” she mocked. Sonia said while Modi does a lot of talking he remains silent on burning issues. Besides, Modi speaks about ideology but shares the dais with those who have gone to jail.

She ended her speech touching on the Lingayat issue. “Modi is going against the Basava principles and people will defeat him,” she said.