Congress dreaming of digging my grave: PM Modi in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Accusing the Congress party and its allies of being busy in a search for a ‘burial ground’ for him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stated that he has the blessings of crores of mothers, sisters and the people of the country to shield him from the approaching dangers.

Addressing that gathering at the inauguration of upgraded Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway 275 at a function held at Gejjalagere in Mandya, Modi accused the Congress party of ‘dreaming’ of a ‘burial ground’ for him while he has kept himself busy in inauguration of Expressway (Bengaluru-Mysuru) and initiating steps to alleviate the problems of the poor people.

Modi accused the Congress led coalition government of indulging in ‘loot’ of money meant for the welfare of the poor and added that “Congress did not leave anything to loot the poor of the country.”

Continuing his attack on Congress party, the Prime Minister said “Loot of money for poor made no difference for the Congress party,” and in comparison to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government under him, Modi termed that the installation of a government at the Centre under his leadership also installed a ‘poor man’s government’ in the country. Modi said that he made ‘honest’ efforts to serve the common man and to improve the living conditions of the poor.

For the poor man of the country, Modi stated houses have been constructed, tap water connections, gas connections, road connectivity to villages, affordable treatment at hospitals among others have been the BJP’s “top priority.”

Lauding his government’s efforts for the poor, Modi stated that under BJP rule over the country, “poor people have been helped to a greater extent and all benefits of the government have reached the target" and he said “His government’s priority has always been solving the problems of the people.”

On the upgraded Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway, Modi said the Highway would reduce the travel time between the two major cities of Karnataka and termed linking Bengaluru known for its technology and Mysuru for its tradition a ‘significant’ step.

Modi said his government accorded importance to infrastructure of the country and stated that a sum of Rs 10 lakh crore has been announced in the Union budget not only to bring facilities but also create employment opportunities, investments and enhance earnings of the people.

Over the foundation laid for the four-laning of Mysore-Kushalnagar Highway, Modi said the four-laning of the road would help travelers especially when landslides occur along Western Ghats during the rainy season.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari expressed hopes that the under construction Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway would be completed by December this year and that its inauguration would be done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Surjewala says highway 'half baked'

Reacting to the inauguration of the Highway, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday termed the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway as being "half-baked, fragmented, patchy and a long way from completion."

He pointed out of the proposed 50 underpasses on the Highway only 22 of them have been completed. Out of 12 proposed overpasses, 6 have been completed and out of 18 proposed pedestrian underpasses, only 8 have been completed, so far. The construction of the Highway has been as per the standards laid down by the Indian Road Congress (IRC). Construction at many places has been ‘unscientific’ and materials used are of substandard quality.

Surjewala alleged no remedial measures have been initiated on the Highway which has reported 300 accidents from October, 2022. As many as 90 deaths have occurred and 122 serious injuries.