Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jan 12: Mysuru MP Pratap Simha from BJP on Friday January 12 took potshots at chief minister Siddaramaiah and said that his only achievements were his bragging and 'details in Govindraju's diary'.
He was speaking at 'Modi-fying Karnataka' programme held at U S Nayak Memorial Hall in Chitpady here.
"People are eagerly waiting for the elections so that they can send the Congress government home and elect BJP to power. Siddaramaiah has already started thinking about saving his chair," he said.
"When BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa was the chief minister, he introduced 75 Suvarna schemes, and other schemes like Bhagyalakshmi and also undertook concreting of roads. People still remember his works and yearn for them.
"Siddaramaiah's only achievements are his careless statements that are full of bragging and details in Govindraju's diary that will reveal his achievements in corruption," Simha said.
"Siddaramaiah keeps pointing out that Yeddyurappa has gone to jail. I want to ask him - did Indira Gandhi go to some palace then?
"In 2014, the state government withdrew 175 cases against 1,600 PFI and KFD activsists. Due to this, murders and assaults on Hindu activists increased in the state. Is this Siddaramaiah's achievement? he said.
He also said that the people of Karnataka have still not forgotten the CM's Hublot watch controversy.
Pratap Simha also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving hard to fulfil the dream of Swami Vivekananda to make India a 'Vishwa Guru'.
"Swami Vivekananda lived a short life but became an inspiration to all. With his statement 'Sisters and brothers of America' at World Parliament of Religions, Swami Vivekananda spread the fragrance of Indian culture to the world. He had vast knowledge of Indian culture. Just as Swami Vivekananda, PM Narendra Modi too is spreading knowledge and culture of India throughout the world," he said.
"Swami Vivekananda had said India would become a Vishwa Guru. Today Modi has come to fulfill that dream. In three-and-a-half years, Modi has become third most powerful leader in the world. It is a proud moment for us. But this is not surprising. Till 2014, Old Mysuru was a bastion of Congress, but I was able to win comfortably. That itself indicated the mood of the people and what they want in the next elections.
"If Modi's good works have to come to Karnataka, people should support BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections.
"Even US President Donald Trump follows Modi. Our Prime Minister is setting his agenda on an international level. He should be elected again in 2019. His vision for 2020 is housing for all, and if this has to come true, he needs to be elected again next year," he urged.
He also said that by December 2018, all houses across the country will get electricity, and that 706 head post offices will become passport centres and banks.
He also asserted that Ram Mandir will be constructed if Modi comes to power again in 2019.
BJP national spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga lauded Narendra Modi in his address and said, "During former PM Dr Manmohan Singh's time, our country was termed as an underachiever by world media, but ever since Modi came to power, we are becoming number 1.
"Chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat mata ki jai' reverberate across countries wherever Modi visits. Let Modi-fying Karnataka start from the birthplace of Lord Krishna," he said.
"When Congress was ruling at the centre, India was known for scams, now India is known for development
"Siddaramaiah's government is counting days. The chief minister has termed BJP and RSS as 'terrorists' but it their murders that have taken place. If the government has guts, let it arrest their murderers," he said.
Expressing confidence that the BJP would come to power in Karnataka next, he said, "In the next five years, the river of development will flow in Karnataka. Let Siddarmaaiah wash his sins in it. Gujarat and Haryana models of development will come to Karnataka. The true colours of Congress will be exposed. We will make India a superpower. We will win."
Organizer of the programme Mahesh Shenoy welcomed and thanked the gathering.