PM Narendra Modi slams H.D. Kumaraswamy for ‘insulting’ forces

Ballari: Launching a scathing attack on JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister Mr H.D. Deve Gowda and his sons at the BJP’s election rally at Gangavati in Koppal district on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also slammed Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for allegedly insulting the armed forces.

“I have seen in the media a statement by the Karnataka CM that only those who cannot afford two square meals a day, join the Army. What kind of thinking is this, Kumaraswamy ji? You cannot keep quiet saying that this statement has been taken out of context. You have only said what is in your mind. There is no false interpretation and you have insulted the armed forces,” said Mr Modi.

Asking the crowd  how they felt about the CM’ remark, the PM remarked, “Don’t you think this is an insult to our great forces? Does this kind of statement look good coming from a CM? Those who sacrifice everything for the country braving -40 degrees Celsius in Siachen and those who suffer in the hot sands at 50 degrees, is this how you talk of them?”

“These are all(leaders) born with a golden spoon. One can’t expect the country to be secure in the hands of such people who were unable to provide bullet proof jackets to soldiers all these years”.

Earlier, on Thursday, Mr Kumaraswamy had slammed PM Modi for ‘playing’ with the lives of jawans for votes’ saying, “soldiers who guard our borders are not born with a silver spoon. Some youth who are unemployed and who cannot afford two square meals a day are joining the Army. This prime minister is playing with their lives.”

Stepping up his attack on PWD Minister H.D. Revanna, elder son of Mr Deve Gowda, Mr Modi said without naming Mr Revanna, “another son of Gowda ji says that he will quit politics if I’m re-elected this time. Do you remember what Gowda ji said ahead of the 2014 elections? He said he will either leave the country or retire from politics if I become prime minister. Will you (people) believe them once again? Gowda ji and his sons won’t retire from politics, instead they will give tickets to their grandsons”, he ridiculed.

Taking a dig at the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, PM Modi dubbed it as a “20 per cent commission government.” He branded the earlier government (of Siddaramaiah) as a “10 per cent commision” government, but now with the Congress and JDS joining hands, it has become a “20 per cent commission government.”

The Congress is now talking of revoking the special privileges available to the Army in Jammu and Kashmir. “I would like to ask those who are voting for the first time - is it okay if the nation’s security is compromised”, he asked. The PM also said that if the BJP led NDA returns to power,  all farmers will benefit from the PM Kisan Yojana and farmers will get pension after they turn 60.

The Prime Minister drew huge applause when he spoke in Kannada towards the end of his speech.

Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading.