From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 14: The waning popularity and mass appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Karnataka a record 28 times to campaign for BJP, has started from the State which also marks the party’s downfall, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Legislative Council on Friday.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the State legislature in the Upper House, Siddaramaiah said the very fact that the BJP lost heavily wherever Modi campaigned extensively in the State is proof of the waning popularity and decline of the Modi magic.

Siddaramaiah said Modi was the only Prime Minister to tour extensively and repeatedly in Karnataka and other State assembly elections.

“While all previous Prime Ministers gave importance to ruling the country and solving its problems by concentrating on governance and administration, winning assembly elections became more important to Modi. He visited a record 28 times to the State for election campaign and the result was the defeat of the BJP,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister said the BJP was more interested in forcing people to pay more for petrol and other commodities and least bothered about price rise or unemployment, the Congress party devoted its energies on strengthening the people.

“The Congress party’s promises on the five guarantees are aimed at putting money in the pockets of the people, especially the poor and women, while BJP was taking money from the pockets of the people and the previous government was steeped in corruption and commission,’’ he said taunting the BJP.

When the Chief Minister compared Modi to Hitler and asserted that the Modi rule will come to an end just as Hitler was thrown out by people due to his wrong policies and atrocities, the BJP members strongly objected.

Siddaramaiah hit back at BJP by asking why are they agitated and angry when Hitler is criticized and reminded that Hitler was known for his genocide and ethnic killings.

He said his party and the government believes in Pampa and Basavanna’s ideals and declared that communal polarization and misgovernance will be eradicated. “We believe all human beings are one,’’ he said.

Meets German Ambassador

Earlier, German Ambassador to India Dr Philip Ackerman called on the Chief Minister in his office in Vidhana Soudha and held cordial discussions.