Bengaluru, Oct 15: BJP state general secretary Shobha Karandlaje has termed AICC President Rahul Gandhi’s meeting on the Rafale deal at Minsk Square as a ‘malicious campaign’ aimed to create confusion among defence personnel.

On Saturday, October 13, Gandhi had addressed retired employees of HAL and Congress workers at Minsk Square near the HAL Corporate Office in Bengaluru.

“While government had prohibited holding of meetings or protest rallies at the Square, who gave permission to Gandhi to address a rally at the spot?” questioned Karandlaje.

“The HAL Employees’ Union has issued a statement saying none of its members were present. When neither HAL nor its retired employees attended the meeting, then who did Rahul Gandhi address?” she questioned and took a dig that the meeting was only for Rahul Gandhi's ‘chelas’. She added that the meeting intended to create confusion and create misunderstanding on the Rafale deal.

Questioning on where is the promised mahagathbandhan, she asked why BSP chief Mayawati is reluctant to join Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections in four northern states. Why did BSP leader N Mahesh resign from his post as Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister?

Terming the union of opposition parties at CM Kumaraswamy’s swearing as a mere show, she alleged that Karnataka lacks a government as its CM is busy on ‘temple run’.