Modi govt empowering fringe elements, says Gundu Rao

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao charged right-wing elements, which believes in violence to settle debates, of gaining power under the Narendra Modi regime.

Speaking to media persons in Hubballi on Monday, Rao said, “While I don’t have proof to claim that the BJP and Sangh Parivar are behind the killings of rationalists and activists who hold ideologies which are different from that of the right-wing, the CBI report in rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and activist Gowri Lankesh murder cases has proved that some extremist right-wing organisation is planning and executing the murders.”

In the name of cow vigilantism and other issues, people are being murdered. For every crime, there is a punishment, but some right-wing extremists have taken it upon themselves to provide mob justice, which is dangerous to democracy, Rao said.

The Congress and All India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhi are opposing divisive ideologies and are going to people seeking votes against "the hatred politics of the BJP", he said.

Acknowledging that the Congress is currently not in a position to take on the BJP, Dinesh said we are joining hands with like-minded parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to keep the communal agents out of power.

Rs 70,000 crore scam

Rao claimed that the Rafale deal is a Rs 70,000 crore scam on which the Union government is sitting mum. The Center has paid Rs 40,000 crore more to the French company to provide the fighter flights, than what was agreed to by UPA government. And the other Rs 30,000 scam is from Reliance company run by Anil Ambani, Rao said.

He also charged that "Modi’s friends" - Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Lalit Modi - are involved in daylight robbery of Indian banks.  

'Siddaramaiah is not Opposition leader'

Rao said the coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah is not acting as the "leader of Opposition" and it was the media which is misinterpreting his statements. 

“Siddaramaiah has clarified his statement on being the chief minister, so there is nothing more for me to add,” Rao said and added that the BJP is still continuing with its efforts to break the coalition government, but has not succeeded. 

“None of them (MLAs) will leave the party, as they don’t fear CBI raids.” Rao said.