Rahul Gandhi to JD(S): Clear stand vis-a-vis BJP

Mysuru: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday remarked that the coming Assembly elecion in Karnataka is a fight between the ideology of the Congress and BJP quipping that the JD(S) has no ideology of its own. 

"We will defeat the BJP and assume power in Karnataka, we will win the parliamentary elections in 2019 and come to power in Delhi," he said while  addressing a massive Janaashirvada rally of over a lakh people mostly farmers from Mysuru, Kodagu, Chamarajnagar and Mandya, at Maharaja's college grounds on Sunday evening.

He said, "We will give a tough fight in each booth and defeat the BJP boothwise. The Congress is united in this fight. The JD (S) has to make it clear if they are supporting the BJP or  RSS or if they are against the corrupt," he said. 

Mr Gandhi began his speech  saying "I am happy to be in the land of Basavanna, Tipu Sultan, Sir M Visvesvaraya, Kuvempu and  KS Puttanniah. The philosophy of Basaveswara is popular in the entire world, the Congress party believes in the same philosophy. But the BJP and RSS divide communities. They make big promises but do nothing done but the Congress fulfills its promises. It believes in uniting people," he said. 

In his aggressive speech, Mr Gandhi  targetted PM Narendra Modi saying, "Mr Modi comes to Karnataka and speaks of corruption, he does not look around his stage which has  one former CM and at least four former ministers who have gone to jail. Wherever he goes, Mr Modi lies and leaves. He says he will end poverty but bank funds are going to the 10 richest people in the country. He has damaged the banking system. This is just the  beginning, there will be more Nirav Modis," he said. 

He added, "Mr Modi talks of start-ups but that is happening only in Karnataka which has the highest job creation among other achievements." 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "Mr Rahul Gandhi had covered three revenue divisions in the state, and will be holding rallies in Bengaluru division on April 3, 4, 7 and 8. The response to Mr Gandhi's rallies indicates that a wave of change has begun. We have a simple, honest, committed and rare politician who mingles and responds to the common people’s needs. The Assembly election ahead is a fight between the secular philosophy of Congress, Communalist philosophy of BJP and opportunistic philosophy of JD (S).”

Mr Gandhi also visited Suttur math and sought the blessings of Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji.

HDK hits back: Sever ties with us in BBMP if we are ‘B’ team

Terming  AICC President Mr Rahul Gandhi ‘immature,’ the JD(S) has asked the Congress to sever its ties with the JD(S) in the BBMP, if it is sure that the JD(S) has joined hands with the BJP.

Mr Gandhi terming the JD(S) as ‘Janata Dal Sangh Parivar’ proves his mental bankruptcy, said Mr Kumaraswamy while raising doubts about whether the  Congress was secular or not.

A secular person should respect all  religions, while having faith in his own religion. However, for the sake of securing votes of the minorities, the Congress had sidelined the religious majority, which had pushed the party to the brink of extinction. Now, to get back the lost votes, Mr Rahul is engaging in a temple run whenever  he visits the state. 

The Congress needs a real, secular and mature leader. An immature leader like Rahul Gandhi can be easily ‘digested’ by the BJP, Mr Kumaraswamy said, adding the Congress was also trying to gain some votes by dividing the Veerashaiva-Lingayats.