Karnataka election: Modi besotted with Congress-free India, says Sonia

With Karnataka Assembly Election 2018 just days away, the BJP and the Congress' Karnataka campaigns have reached their last leg. Catch Karnataka polls 2018 latest updates

Describing the electoral fight in Karnataka as one of 'clean versus dirty politics', the Congress today hit out at the BJP for fielding the "corrupt" as it launched an initiative for public funding of its candidates.

Seeking to bring transparency in electoral funding, the Congress through the "crowdfunding platform" has collected Rs 5.56 lakh through 213 donations, against its "goal of Rs 28 lakh collections" from the public.

For the first time ever, the party launched the online initiative claiming all contributions made will get income tax relief.

The Congress had earlier strongly opposed the electoral bonds initiative announced by the Modi government for electoral funding.

The party's initiative comes at a time when there is a big political debate on cleaning the political system and bringing in more transparency.

"Here is your chance to change the narrative of Indian politics. If you think clean politics must triumph over corrupt politics, join us and be part of this vision. Contribute now,"the party said on its 'crowdfunding platform'.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the fight in Karnataka is "clean politics vs dirty politics" and "mafia vs people" while attacking the BJP for fielding the "corrupt Reddy gang".

"It's a clear fight in Karnataka. Clean Politics vs Dirty Politics. Mafia vs People. With the BJP fielding the corrupt Reddy gang, we are trying a novel approach to fund our candidate. Support our candidate by making a contribution," he said on Twitter.

The party has been attacking the BJP for fielding tainted mining baron Janardhan Reddy's brothers and those from his camp in the assembly elections.

Gandhi used the hashtag 'CleanPoliticswithINC' and tagged a report entitled "You decide: Dirty politics versus Clean politics?" brought out by the Congress party as part of its initiative to seek public contributions for funding its candidates.

As part of the "You decide: Dirty politics versus Clean politics" drive, the Congres highlighted the "infamous Reddy brothers", alleging that "as part of the 'mining mafia', they cost the Karnataka state Rs 35,000 crore" and UPA government managed to crack down and threw the Reddy brothers in jail.

Here are the top 10 developments around the Karnataka Assembly election 2018 campaign by the BJP and Congress:

1) Boy with golden spoon won't understand poverty, says Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi saying one who is born with a golden spoon would never understand the difficulties of the poor and importance of Swachh Bharat campaign.

"When I had spoken about Swachh Bharat and building toilets from the Red Fort, the 'Naamdaars' mocked me. Those who are born with a golden spoon never understand the difficulties of the poor. We are committed to serve the poor and would continue to do so," he said.

Addressing a public meeting, Modi talked about a small girl from Koppal district, Mallamma, who resorted to hunger strike for a toilet in her house -- about whom he had talked in his Mann Ki Baat in 2016 -- and had thus boosted the Swachh Bharat campaign in the country.
 

2) Modi accuses Congress of not following Basaveshwara's ideals: Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday spoke at a public rally in Vijayapura in Karnataka. He said that people had gathered for the rally in large numbers and that they were there because they wanted to "show their support for the BJP" and aspire for a "better life in the coming five years". Taking a dig at the Congress, Modi said that instead of going among the people, the party's leaders were "thinking about what excuses to make about a certain defeat".

"I am here in a land that is closely associated with Bhagwan Basaveshwara. His philosophy calls for taking all sections of society together. Sadly, the Congress government has not followed his ideals. All they are bothered about is their votes," said Modi, adding: "What has the Congress done for the farmers of Karnataka? When the state was suffering due to droughts, ministers handling key portfolios were busy in Delhi doing politics.
 
3) Yogi says Siddarmaiah allowing jihadi elements to fester in Karnataka: Campaigning in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday raked up Bhatkal's history of communal violence as he campaigned in the town, to launch a scathing attack on the Siddarmaiah government for its inaction against "jihadi elements".

Kicking off his first rally of the day in Bhatkal, Yogi's address to the public centered around security concerns. He said that Bhatkal would continue to be recognised as the haven of terrorists until an effective government came to power in the state. "As long as we show laxity when it comes to security, remain divided among ourselves, anti-national elements will take advantage and continue to kill innocent citizens, just as in 1993, when 17 people were killed here, and in 1996, BJP MLA U Chittaranjan was murdered here, and there is a series of such incidents that have presented a threat to security in Bhatkal," Yogi said.

Yogi accused Siddaramaiah of allowing "the mafias, and jihadi elements" to fester in the state with his inaction, and deduced that it was because "he does not want good governance, he does not want safety for the general public, and he has a secret agenda due to which he is encouraging social unrest and hence Karnataka is on a rapid decline with regard to development".

Piling on the accusations, Yogi further raked up the row over the celebration of the Tipu Sultan Jayanti in Karnataka and said that at the same time, the Congress-led state government did not allow the celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji's Jayanti, thereby "bringing utter disrespect to this state".

4) Rahul Gandhi slams Amit Shah as 'murder accused': Taking a potshot at Prime Minister Modi, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he only says his 'Mann ki Baat', but does not listen to what the country has to say to him. Gandhi also targeted Modi for being tight-lipped after a BJP MLA allegedly raped a girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao a few months ago. Addressing a public gathering during a roadshow at Karnataka's Gauribidanur, Gandhi said, "A BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh rapes a woman and PM Modi does not even utter a word."

Earlier in the day, Gandhi had attacked BJP chief Amit Shah by calling him a "murder accused". Claiming that Shah lacked credibility, Gandhi said the BJP, which spoke of honesty and decency, had a person accused of murder as its head.

5) Sonia Gandhi questions Modi's 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' slogan: Holding her first election rally in two years, UPA chairperson president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Modi government of discriminating against Congress-ruled Karnataka, and questioned his slogan of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' (together with all, development for all).

Launching a counteroffensive against the prime minister, who has relentlessly targeted the Siddaramaiah government over corruption, she wanted to know what happened to the institution of Lok Pal, the anti-graft watchdog that was proposed to be set up.

"The Modi government is discriminating against our government in Karnataka. Is this your 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'?" she said.

Campaigning for Congress, the former Congress president took a dig at Prime Minister Modi and said, "Modi ji is proud of the fact that he is a very good orator, I agree with this. He speaks like an actor. I'll be happy if his speeches can end hunger of the country but speeches cannot fill empty stomachs, food is needed for that."

"Modi ji has a zeal for Congress-free India. Leave Congress-free India, he cannot even tolerate anyone in front of himself," she added.

6) Congress will resolve Cauvery dispute after returning to power, says Chidambaram: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday said his party will resolve the Cauvery water dispute if it comes come back to power and alleged that Narendra Modi declined to solve the problem as suggested by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, the former union minister also said that the prime minister's attack on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, while raking up the National Herald case at a poll rally, will have no impact on electoral prospects of the Congress party in the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls as all charges were "bogus".
 

Karnataka Election 2018: Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses the media in Bengaluru. Photo: PTI

7) It's 'clean politics vs dirty politics' in Karnataka, says Rahul Gandhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the fight in Karnataka is "clean politics vs dirty politics" and "mafia vs people" as he attacked the BJP for fielding the "corrupt Reddy gang".

He also claimed that his party candidates were contesting the Karnataka assembly election with contributions from the public.

"It's a clear fight in Karnataka. Clean Politics vs Dirty Politics. Mafia vs People. With the BJP fielding the corrupt Reddy gang, we are trying a novel approach to fund our candidate. Support our candidate by making a contribution," he said on Twitter.
 

The party has been attacking the BJP for fielding tainted mining baron Janardhan Reddy's brothers and those from his camp in the assembly elections.

Gandhi used the hashtag 'CleanPoliticswithINC' and tagged a report entitled "You decide: Dirty politics versus Clean politics?" brought out by the Congress party as part of its initiative to seek public contributions for funding its candidates.

8) Rahul should try to win state polls first, says BJP on his 'ready to be PM' remark: The BJP on Tuesday took potshots at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks that he was ready to be the prime minister, saying the Congress president, who is harbouring "lofty dreams" despite his party's losing spree, should first try to win state elections.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said while it is Gandhi's right to "dream" about becoming the prime minister, even Congress' allies were not accepting him as their leader. He reminded Gandhi that after he became Congress vice president, "his party lost 13 states and after he took over as party president, it has lost five states and Karnataka will be the sixth one".

"Look at the irony, Congress is losing state after state ever since Gandhi took over as party's vice president and then party chief. But he is dreaming to become the prime minister. Even Congress' allies are not accepting him as their leader," Hussain told reporters.

The BJP leader emphasised that the country will once again elect Narendra Modi as their prime minister.

9) Congress finding excuses like faulty EVMs, says Modi: Asserting that the people of Karnataka have decided to uproot the Congress and punish it for its wrongdoings, Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the party is already trying to find excuses like faulty EVMs for the "impending" defeat in the Assembly polls.

Taking on the Siddaramaiah government over alleged corruption, Modi said there is not even a single minister who is not facing accusations of financial irregularities.

Campaigning in this Lingayat stronghold, he alleged the state's ruling Congress is trying to divide the society and spread the "poison of casteism".

Addressing an election rally at Sarawad near Vijayapura in north Karnataka, Modi dismissed projections and surveys by "those sitting in air-conditioned rooms" that the elections would throw up a hung Assembly.

Modi made repeated references to the 12th-century saint, philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara to reach out to the Lingayats, the traditional bedrock of the BJP's support base as Lingayats worship Basaveshwara.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa belongs to the Lingayat community.

10) Karnataka BJP rakes up Sonia's foreign origin ahead of visit: Ahead of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's visit to poll-bound Karnataka, the BJP raked up the issue of her Italian origin by referring to her maiden name Antonio Maino.

"Today, Ms. Antonio Maino is here in Karnataka to save her last citadel from falling! Madam Maino, Karnataka needs no lessons from the person who was solely responsible for wasting India's 10 precious years. And to Congress, need to remind you of your 'import' jibe?" Karnataka BJP said in a tweet.

The BJP was responding to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent remarks calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his own Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath "North Indian imports".

Hitting back, BJP had then said in a tweet, "Imports? How much low can you stoop Mr. CM? Your attempt at North-South divide is disgusting."

It is not the first time that the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin has been raked up during the Karnataka polls.

Read our detailed copy on Karnataka Assembly election 2018 updates: Karnataka polls: Siddaramaiah says Cong to win with full majority; updates 

Siddaramaiah addressing rally in Mysuru today: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday will address a gathering in Mysuru, the city whose former ruler Tipu Sultan, has become a political agenda for both the BJP and the Congress.

  

With agency inputs