Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 27: During a recent election rally in Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not hold back as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party for what he described as a plunder of public funds, leaving behind nothing but an empty vessel. Dubbing the BJP as the 'Bharatiya Chombu Party', Gandhi drew on local parlance, using ‘Chombu’, a round water pot in Kannada, to symbolize emptiness and deceit.

"Modi's Bharatiya Chombu Party has looted the public's wealth abundantly, offering nothing but an empty pot in return,” Gandhi exclaimed, holding up a pot for emphasis.

In his addresses at public gatherings in Vijayapura and Ballari earlier that day, Gandhi took aim at Modi, suggesting that the Prime Minister's recent fervent attacks on the Congress betrayed a sense of fear, even hinting that tears might flow on stage.

"The Prime Minister's speeches reveal his apprehension. There's a chance he might shed tears in public," Gandhi remarked.

Modi's renewed focus on issues such as ‘mangalsutra’, ‘redistribution of wealth’, and ‘inheritance tax’, which were notably absent from his earlier speeches, drew Gandhi's criticism. Accusing Modi of resorting to diversion tactics, Gandhi quipped, "One moment it's China and Pakistan, the next, he's urging people to clang plates or illuminate their mobile phone torches."

In a scathing jab at the BJP, Gandhi remarked, "The BJP, or should I say Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Chombu Party, is hollow. For every Rs 100 contributed by Karnataka in GST, it receives a mere Rs 13 in return through tax devolution."

Highlighting the state's plight, Gandhi lamented, "Karnataka was promised around Rs 18,000 crore for drought relief, but all it received was a 'Chombu'. The Finance Commission overlooked the demand for Rs 60,000 crore, offering nothing but an empty vessel."