From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru

Mysuru, Jan 25: Throwing an "open challenge" to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, BJP National President Amit Shah said the time has come to throw out the corrupt ruling Congress party in the State and his party will form the next government in the coming assembly polls.

Addressing a massive public meeting organised by the State Unit under former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa-led State-wide Parivathana Rally in this historical city, the BJP Chief fumed at the Chief Minister and the ruling Congress party for its role in "sponsoring" the Karnataka Bandh on the Mahadayi issue on Thursday to inconvenience the people from attending his meeting and also a Bengaluru Bandh on February 4 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was schedule to address the party workers.

He accused the Congress party of behaving like it did during the infamous Emergency era by deploying police.

"Despite desperate attempt to disrupt the rally by organising this (bandh over Mahadayi issue), we have managed to hold it and been successful at it. Siddaramaiah-led Congress also wants to disrupt Modi's rally to be held on February 4," he said.

"Siddaramaiah cannot prevent BJP victory"

Despite these obstructionist tactics, Shah said the Congress party and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will not be able to stop BJP from forming government because people of Karnataka have decided for change.

Lustily cheered by the BJP workers at the Maharaja College Grounds, the BJP chief said he was proud to address the party workers in the shadow of Chamundeshwari, the goddess who had destroyed the demon Mahishasura, and warned the Chief Minister that BJP would throw out the "evil" Congress government in the State and form the next government.

"This is my open challenge to Siddaramaiah," he thundered and claimed that Siddaramaiah personified corruption and arrogance.

Asking the people who had assembled to attend his rally, Shah wanted to know if anybody had a Rs 70 lakh worth watch referring to the diamond-studded Hublot wrist watch gifted to him and wondered how the Chief Minister had the courage to sport such a watch.

"More than 20 BJP-RSS workers killed"

Taking on the Chief Minister, he said more than 20 RSS-BJP workers had been murdered in the State during the last four years and alleged that the Siddaramaiah government has "allowed" the killers to go scot-free.

Continuing BJP’s political strategy of polarising the majority Hindu community by raising the murders of RSS-BJP workers and also the ruling Congress party for celebrating Tipu Jayanti, the BJP chief said Karnataka had produced so many great leaders and stalwarts and still the government was celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu.
In the same vein, he attacked the Congress party for opposing the anti-triple talaq bill and termed it as Congress party’s "minority appeasement strategy." Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to justice to Muslim sisters and mothers by passing the bill and providing justice to them, he said.

"3,500 farmers committed suicide in 4 years"

Attacking the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for not helping the farmers even though more than 3,500 farmers have committed suicide in last 5 years in Karnataka, he said the BJP wants to change the situation of farmers, youth and give protection to women.

"We want to stop corruption and politics of appeasement in Karnataka. I appeal to the people of Karnataka to dump the Siddaramaiah government lock, stock and barrel," he said.

"Give accounts of Central grants"

Joining issue with the Chief Minister for his attack on the Modi government for its step-motherly treatment to Karnataka, he said: "I have come to ask you (Chief Minister) what happened to the money released by the Centre?’ What happened to the money?"

"As against the UPA government’s release of Rs 80,000 crore under the 13th Finance Commission, our government has released Rs 2,19,506 crore under the 14th Finance Commisison. What happened to the additional grant of Rs 1.30 lakh crore? I demand an account from the government," he thundered.

Shah said Yeddyurappa’s Parivarthana Yatra has instilled fear in the Congress government and said the Yatra was aimed not only changing the government but also to bring a better future to the people, change the lives of farmers, youth and women.

"BJP will solve Mahadayi issue"

State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa, Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, opposition leader in the Council K S Eshwarappa, R Ashok, Shobha Karandlaje, V Srinivasa Prasad, Pratap Simha and other BJP leaders participated.

Earlier, speaking to reporters Yeddyurappa said the Mysuru public meeting addressed by Amit Shah was a success despite the bandh on the Mahdayi issue sponsored by the ruling Congress party.
He claimed that BJP will solve the Mahadayi issue after the BJP comes to power in the State.