BJP turning coastal Karnataka into Hindutva laboratory: Siddaramaiah

BJP is spreading lies in the name of Hindutva to cause division in society, the Congress leader alleged

Leader of Opposition in Assembly and former chief minister Siddaramaiah said that people are in desperate need of change and that no one, including PM Narendra Modi, can eliminate public hostility towards the BJP.

The former chief minister told reporters on the sidelines of the Praja Dhwani in Udupi that people are disillusioned. "Even if Modi visits Karnataka a hundred times, he will not be able to change the fate of the BJP, which is already on the docks. BJP leaders are not interested in development works and state BJP chief has asked the members to speak about Love Jihad," he said.

The BJP does not believe in development, Siddaramaiah mocked, adding that the BJP will not develop the coastal region with this mindset. Comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a dictator, Siddaramaiah said that people will teach them a lesson.

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The Congress is confident of winning 130 to 150 seats in Karnataka in the assembly elections. The list of candidates will be finalised in the first week of February. The Congress will win at least two to three seats in Udupi and five to six in Dakshina Kannada, the former CM assured.

To a query on Amith Shah's question over Operation Old Mysuru, he stated that Amith Shah only makes statements that are far from reality.

The BJP is spreading lies on two factions in the Congress. The BJP leaders are helpless to stop Yatnal from bad-mouthing against his own party. He didn't even turn up to Nadda's programme, he said. The BJP is mired in corruption and crores of money was paid to the BJP high command, he added.

Refuting BJP national President J P Nadda’s claim that Congress is power hungry, Siddaramaiah questioned Nadda about his lack of power. He said the BJP has turned the coastal districts a Hindutva laboratory. "The BJP is synonymous with deception. All religions do not preach hatred, which is immoral. The BJP is anti-humanity. The term Hindutva was coined by Savarkar. Congress is opposed to terrorism but not to humanity. The word ‘Hindu’ is different from the ‘Hindutva’. We hate those who lie and propagate ‘Manuvaada’ in the name of ‘Hindutva’. We love Hindus, Christians, Muslims or any other religions,” Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing the convention, the former chief minister urged young people not to fall victim to BJP's schemes. It is extremely upsetting that youth, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are made victims, he said. “They are killed and trained to kill others.”