Shri Modi said that the Congress Party had insulted the people of Karnataka and that they must apologize to the people of Karnataka for hurting their sensibilities. He declared that the sooner the nation is free of the Congress, the sooner it can make a mark at the world level.
Lauding the state Government headed by Shri Shettar, the Chief Minister recalled that when people from the North East were leaving due to rumors, it was the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Shri R Ashok and others who left no stone unturned to dispel the rumors and bring the people back. He also shared that in NDC meetings, when Shri Shettar speaks, everyone listens to his words very seriously.
“Do not believe what the Congress says. Country knows what the Congress is about now. In every election they wear a new mask. Congress promised to bring prices down in 100 days. Did that happen? No, prices only increased!” Shri Modi declared. He also stated that the Congress promised jobs to 1 crore youngsters but asked if any youngster of Karnataka got the job at the hands of the Centre.
The Chief Minister minced no words in exposing the hollow promises of the Congress leadership, especially those leaders of the Congress born with golden spoons. Referring to the Jaipur Plenary Session of the Congress he affirmed, “In Jaipur the Congress was painting itself in a different colour. What all did they say and for a week the media kept talking about it, the balloon was inflated but in a matter of such less time, water has been thrown on their promises.” Elaborating further on his point, Shri Modi said, Those born with a golden spoon were advising that candidates who lost by over 15,000 votes will not get a ticket. What happened? They got it. Then they said no tickets would be given to criminal elements but what happened? Contrary to what they said haven’t tickets bring given to scions of big families? The nation wants to know about the promises you made in Jaipur.” He further said that the Congress is a party that says something but does something else. “We have been brought up with values. If a mother says something, the son does not disregard it. But see the Congress, Mother says power is poison but son says- give us power in Karnataka,” he avowed amidst thunderous applause from the audience.
Shri Modi went on to say, “See the double speak. For Congress power is poison but this is the same Congress that spread poison of casteism, communalism, and corruption. It is your poison that divided India, divided brother from brother. We have to save Karnataka, we cannot give it in such hands.” Talking about the corruption of the Congress Shri Modi said, “Congress gives lessons on corruption. See your 2G scam, if we start writing the numbers of the scam from 7 Race Course Road, the final zero will stop at 10 Janpath.” He declared that if we were to compare Governments of the BJP and Congress for any given five years, the BJP Governments would resoundingly emerge as the better performers.
In his speech Shri Modi questioned the UPA for its failures on the Italian Marine issue, the beheading of two Indian soldiers, the incursions by China and the Sarabjit issue. “Are these coalition problems? A small nation like Maldives tells you what to do! In a nation where Chanakya is born the foreign minister reads the speech of another nation,” he said.
Shri Modi affirmed that if the BJP makes mistakes they go among the people and rectify it but the Congress does not do that. Referring to the recent political events in Karnataka Shri Modi pointed that in Karnataka and Gujarat the rise of the BJP happened during the same period and that the same problems the party witnessed it Gujarat were seen in Karnataka. He shared, “In 1995 people were fed up of the Congress and gave us a 2/3rd majority. We did not have experience of running a Government and in the Party we faced problems. In a span of five years four Governments changed. We thought the people would not accept the BJP. We ran a good government but we thought due to Party problems people would reject us. Media also ruled us out. Yet, the people made a mature move. They saw the interest of the state and gave us the opportunity to serve them again. We decided that there would never be such a mistake. It has been twelve years and the people have continued to shower their affection. The same faith I have in the people of Gujarat, I have in the people of Karnataka.”
Praising the work of the BJP Government under Shri Shettar’s leadership, Shri Modi said, “There were ups and downs in the party, there were internal issues. But, there was no down in the development journey, there were only ups!”
Shri Modi received a very warm welcome in Karnataka. Before Shri Modi spoke speeches were made by Shri R Ashok, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Ananth Kumar and Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji. A large number of people across various age groups and communities attended the public meeting.
