Congress President Rahul Gandhi begins 3rd Karnataka visit; assails Modi
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "insulting" the common man by claiming credit for India's progress, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday, as he embarked on his third visit to poll-bound Karnataka.
Gandhi accused the BJP of dividing people despite its talk of dharma.
The Congress leader also accused the Prime Minister of favoring big businesses by waiving their loans while ignoring farmers.
India's development
Modi should stop insulting the common man: Rahul
"Modi...says in the last 70 years nothing has happened. He is insulting your parents, poor farmers, laborers, small businessmen of India," Rahul said.
"If this country stands as equal to other countries of the world today, it has not happened in two years. It has taken years of time, sweat and blood of common people. Modi should stop insulting the common man," he said.
Rahul on BJP
No single person can take a country forward: Rahul
Addressing a rally at Padubidre in Udupi district, Rahul said, "No single person can take a country forward."
"BJP people talk about dharma, but wherever they go, they divide people by pitting one against the other. On one side they praise Basavanna and Narayana Guru (social reformers), and on the other, they indulge in things that these two great people fought against," he said.
Details
Rahul is on a two-day trip to south coastal Karnataka
Gandhi is on a two-day trip to south coastal Karnataka.
Noting that five major banks originated in Udupi district, Gandhi said the Congress party's idea behind that was to take banks to the people and blamed Modi government for mounting non-performing assets.
"We took banks to villages, but if you see today, there are NPAs worth lakhs of crore of rupees of rich people."
Assembly elections
Karnataka Assembly elections in the state are likely in April-May
Repeatedly invoking social reformers Narayana Guru and Basavanna, Gandhi said the two preached "we are all one".
"Narendra Modi speaks about Basavanna and Narayana Guru. I want to ask him a question. You speak about Basavanna and Narayana Guru, then why do you differentiate between rich and poor?" he said.
The Assembly elections in the state are likely in April-May.