From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Mar 3: Former Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of levelling false allegations of Congress leaders attacking him by saying “Mar Ja Modi’’ (Die Modi), in order to gain sympathy and increase his popularity.

Addressing the media in Belagavi on Friday, March 3, the Congress leader said the Prime Minister’s allegations against Congressmen of wishing “Mar Ja Modi” and the people of the North-Eastern states saying “Mat Ja Modi’’ was “nothing but a drama." He demanded that the Prime Minister, who has the entire police, security and intelligence apparatus of the Centre under his command, must identify such people and punish them.

“Who prevents the Centre from punishing those who are publicly saying the Prime Minister must die," he asked and demanded that the Centre must identify and disclose the names of people who said such things and where and when instead of indulging in cheap publicity seeking gimmicks,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said the Prime Minister’s public statement disclosing that the Congress leaders demanded his death and the Centre’s inability to send such people behind bars implies that the Prime Minister is not safe in the country.

“If such a thing happens and the Prime Minister is not safe, what about the ordinary people," he said and demanded that the Centre must identify and punish the culprits and if it does not happen, the people will have to infer that the entire thing is a “political gimmick and drama."

The Congress leader said that he expected the Prime Minister to advise the state minister (Dr Ashwath Narayan), who had publicly urged the people of Mandya to “finish him off like Tipu Sultan" and instead, he himself is indulging in sympathy gaining drama.

Siddaramaiah said it was ironical that Modi is shedding crocodile tears on Congress party insulting AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, when he and the BJP had completely sidelined BJP’s senior leader L K Advani and all other senior leaders after Modi became Prime Minister.

Siddaramaiah said Modi rewarded Advani for saving him when the then BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee wanted to oust him as Gujarat Chief Minister over the Godhra genocide. “What right does Modi have when he himself insulted veterans like Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Jaswant Singh and his own Gujarat leader Keshubhai Patel,” he asked.

The Congress leader said it was strange that Modi and Amit Shah are singing praises of former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who unceremoniously made to quit and sent home weeping.

Demands immediate poll schedule

Siddaramaiah urged the Central Election Commission to immediately announce dates for the Karnataka assembly polls to prevent widespread misuse of government machinery and funds by the Basavaraj Bommai government, which is flouting all democratic and constitutional norms to conduct its election campaign at the cost of State Exchequer.

The Congress leader said the party shortly convene a meeting of all senior leaders to decide on meeting the CEC demanding immediate announcement of election dates in the State.

“The loot of public funds for election campaign by BJP and Bommai regime must be stopped,” he demanded.

Siddaramaiah said the misuse of government machinery and funds for the frequent tours of Modi and Shah at the cost of State exchequer must be put an end to. “It unethical and shameless that Bommai is splurging public funds for Modi and Shah’s visits,’’ he said.