Modi attacks Rahul for insulting Deve Gowda, showers praise on JD(S) supremo

Udupi (Karnataka): In remarks that raised eyebrows in political circles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for “insulting” JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, saying it showed his “arrogance”.

He said Deve Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect.

Mr Modi’s remarks assume significance as they come after most pollsters predicted a fractured verdict in the Assembly elections, with no party attaining a majority on its own.

In a no-holds-0barred attack on the JD(S) in Hassan, the home turf of H.D. Deve Gowda, Mr Gandhi had earlier accused the party of acting like the “B” team of the BJP to help bring it back to power in the state.

Addressing a gathering, Mr Gandhi had then remarked that JD(S) leaders are under the impression that people will not see through their ‘back door’ politics to help the BJP.

“There may be multiple teams of the RSS at work but they cannot stop the Congress from emerging victorious in the polls in Karnataka,’ he had said.