Mysuru: Recalling the tactics adopted during the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, BJP President Mr Amit Shah on Thursday accused the ruling Congress in Karnataka of adopting a similar strategy to stifle his party’s Parivarthana Yatra rally held in Mysuru, by sponsoring a state-wide bandh on the same day. Pro-Kannada outfits observed a dawn to dusk bandh on Thursday demanding the intervention of PM Modi to solve the Mahadayi river water row with neighbouring Goa.
Addressing the Parivarthana Yatra rally, which saw the participation of 15,000 people at Maharaja’s College grounds here, Mr Shah said, “I have come to challenge the Chief Minister in his hometown where so many people have gathered despite the threat of a bandh. You (CM Siddaramaiah) cannot stop us now and the next government will be that of the BJP. Efforts are being made to prevent the programme in Bengaluru, scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 4, by calling for a bandh on the same day. But I have confidence in the people of Karnataka who will gather for the convention and prove they favour the BJP.”
Continuing in the same vein, Mr Shah said, “When Siddaramaiah had come to Delhi, he had sought accounts for the funds given by the Centre to Karnataka. I have come here to give the accounts. The previous Congress-led UPA government, during the tenure of the 13th Finance Commission, had given Rs 88,583 crore to the state but in 2014, during the tenure of the 14th Finance Commission, the BJP led NDA government gave Rs 2,19,506 crore. Besides this, Rs 1,30,000 crore has been given for 106 programmes. What happened to all that money? Give me the account. Siddaramaiah has ensured that these programmes don’t reach the people, fearing that Mr Modi will become popular. So if they have to reach you, you must resolve to throw out the corrupt Siddaramaiah government and bring BJP to power.”
