During his final campaign speech before the 10 May Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted an intense attack on the Congress, alleging that the party openly supports the split of Karnataka from India.
The Prime Minister’s accusation comes the day after Sonia Gandhi, a former leader of the Congress, spoke at a campaign rally in Hubballi.
The party said that Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas in reference to her address. Additionally, images of Gandhi speaking at the open gathering were published.
The tweet stated that the Congress will not permit anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty, or integrity.
According to Modi, who was allegedly making reference to this, the ‘tukde-tukde gang’ (anti-national elements) had spread throughout the Congress at the highest levels.
“When it comes to working against India’s interests, Congress’ royal family will be at the forefront. I want to speak about a serious issue here, I want to say it as there is a lot of pain in my heart. This country can never forgive such a game. This family, to influence the politics in the country, is encouraging foreign forces to interfere,” Modi said.
Speaking at a public gathering in the Mysuru region, he accused them of meeting in secret with antagonistic foreign diplomats and participating in repeated acts that violate India’s sovereignty, adding that they are not ashamed of it.
Stating that in this Karnataka election, Congress’s royal family has gone a step ahead breaking all the limits and crushing the feelings of the country, Modi further said “Not only Karnataka, I want to tell this to entire country with lot of pain that in this election Congress yesterday came to Karnataka and said that they want to protect the sovereignty of Karnataka.”
“Karnataka’s sovereignty, you know what is the meaning of it? They have sat in Parliament for so many years, they have taken oath on India’s Constitution, and they say this. When a country becomes independent, then that country is called a sovereign nation. The meaning of what Congress is saying is the party believes that Karnataka is separate from India,” he charged.
The Prime Minister questioned the public on whether they agreed with it and whether they would punish Congress for making such a statement, claiming that it meant Congress was openly supporting the secession of Karnataka from India.
“I had never thought that the disease of the tukde-tukde gang would reach the Congress’ top level,” he said, accusing the party of insulting Kannada fighters who fought for India’s independence and insulting the patriotism of crores of Kannadigas.
Noting that this is the land where ‘Rashtra Kavi’ Kuvempu had said Karnataka is integral part of India with lines in the state anthem – “Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate Jaya he Karnataka Maate”, Modi said “for every Kannadiga, Karnataka is a mother and she has been described as the daughter of ‘Bharat ma’. I can feel the feelings of Kannadigas.”
He continued, offending Karnataka’s sensibilities is equivalent to insulting the “culture and pride” of the state.
The Prime Minister continued to blame Congress for sowing division between states and stoking racial tension, saying that anytime they committed such crimes, Indians banded together to destroy them.
He claimed that Congress seeks to gain political oxygen in Karnataka by whatever means and that people here can never forgive them for this sin. On May 10, Congress will receive a strong statement in response to this.
He acknowledged the support and love shown to him while campaigning in Karnataka and described it as his greatest asset, saying, “This is my last programme in this election campaign and after this he will leave for Delhi.” Modi later visited the Srikanteshwara temple in the district.