Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (VP)
Mangaluru, Apr 8: BJP spokesperson Ashwath Narayan criticized the Congress government for its Lok Sabha election manifesto, likening it to the manifesto of the Muslim League before partition. He also slammed the Karnataka Congress state government over allegations of corruption.
Addressing the media on Monday, April 7 at the BJP office, Ashwath Narayan stated, "Siddaramaiah's habit is to criticize others and conceal his own misdeeds. The Nyaay Patra manifesto launched by the Congress requests public support, but despite ample opportunities, the Congress government fails to deliver on its promises. They must clarify whether this manifesto represents the Congress party or the Indian alliance. With slim chances of securing more than 120 seats, the Congress's Guarantee schemes are impractical on a nationwide scale. The manifesto's claim of providing Rs 1 lac to every woman in the family raises concerns about funding, given the estimated number of 20-30 crore women. The Congress lacks a concrete plan for funding this scheme. Moreover, the manifesto's resemblance to the Muslim League's ideology is troubling; for example, while the Muslim League pledged to protect Sharia law, the Congress promises to safeguard minority laws. Similarly, the Muslim League advocated for scholarships for Muslim students, and now the Congress proposes scholarships for minorities in foreign countries.
"Within just 100 days of coming to power, the State Congress government is facing serious internal issues, which is unusual. Minister BR Patil and Basavaraj Rayareddy highlighted the need for expenditures to complete tasks, reflecting concerns within the Congress ranks. Additionally, allegations raised by Contract association leaders have added to the government's challenges. Siddaramaiah's focus on Guarantee schemes and criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a recurring theme. He often accuses the Central government of diverting funds from the state to Northern states, a claim refuted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in response to Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress members.
"It is clear that the Muslim League serves as a role model for Congress, evidenced by their similar ideologies. Congress also pledges to abrogate Article 370 and reverse Triple Talaq. In recent years, developmental works under the BJP government have seen significant progress. Notably, the completion of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru road, facilitated by MP Prathap Simha, has generated employment for around 7,000 people over 6-7 years, thanks to an investment of approximately 6800 crores. Infrastructure development, employment opportunities, industrial growth, and advancements in connectivity have been notable achievements during PM Modi's tenure. Additionally, diplomatic relations with neighboring countries have improved. We believe that the people of the country will recognize these efforts and vote in favor of the BJP. This election has the potential to make history by securing victory in all contested seats. While I previously contested against D K Shivakumar and lost, I am confident that Capt Brijesh Chowta and Kota Srinivas Poojary will receive widespread support and secure victory," he said.
When asked about Sumalatha's decision to join the BJP and the internal issues in Shivamogga, Ashwath Narayan responded, "Sumalatha did not receive a ticket last time, and now she has decided to join the BJP. Regarding the situation in Shivamogga, it seems that a senior party leader is unhappy about not getting a ticket. We hope he will withdraw his candidacy and rejoin the BJP."
On Padmaraj R's comments about Congress's role in developmental works and bringing big industries, Ashwath Narayan stated, "Infrastructure like airports, roads, and ports existed since British times, but we have renovated them. If needed, we will explore adding another airport to the city. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has outlined his achievements and projects in his books."
Responding to criticism of Guarantee schemes by the BJP, Ashwath Narayan clarified, "We are not against Guarantees, but we advocate for a systematic approach. The inclusion of rice from the central government in the scheme and discrepancies in free electricity distribution raise concerns. Congress should release a white paper detailing funds raised and distributed to youths. Guarantee announcements in other states led to electoral losses for Congress. The media is exposing the reality behind Siddaramaiah's guarantees."
Sathish Kumpala, Nithin Kumar, Ganesh Karnik, Premananda Shetty, Ravishankar Mijar, Sanjay Prabhu and others were present.