Siddaramaiah calls upon Cong workers to defeat BJP in Karnataka Assembly polls

Mangaluru: Leader of the opposition in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah called upon the party workers to defeat the BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections.

“Communal BJP should be defeated in the Coastal Karnataka region in the upcoming elections. To protect democracy, the constitution should be protected. BJP does not believe in Ambedkar’s constitution," he said while addressing a gathering organised as part of Kabaddi tournament organized by the Congress party in Belthangady on Sunday.

The senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP came to power through Operation Lotus and not by mandate.

“People allege that the government has been functioning on commission basis. Such a government should not continue. The communal BJP should be defeated and people should vote for the Congress,” he said.

“While our constitution speaks about secularism and nation building, BJP believes in having Hindu Rashtra. They inject the opium of religion and cast among the youth. India does not belong to one religion or caste. If I try to speak such things, people like CT Ravi give me a Muslim name. My parents have named me Siddaramiah, who is he to call me Sidramullah Khan?” Siddaramaiah questioned.

“I am more Hindu than CT Ravi. But not a Hindu who hates other religions,” he added.

The former Chief Minister questioned the BJP government for reducing the amount of rice provided under the Anna Bhagya programme for the poor.