Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Mar 6: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the ‘Parivarthana Yatra,’ organised by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee at Adyar Gardens in Mangaluru on Wednesday, March 6.

“We should make a resolution in this Parivarthana Yatra that in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, we defeat the most useless MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. Other than setting fire he does not know anything,” Siddaramaiah said.

“BJP have spoiled the peace and harmony of the district and acquired seats. They have misled the people in the district. Modi government has failed in every department as there is no development to show to the people. Modi government failed to stop Pulwama terror attack. I urge people not to be victims of his speech and end up voting for him,” he urged.

“In 2013, the 168 promises Congress mentioned in the manifesto have been fulfilled. Modi speaks that he has 56 inch chest. It’s not enough to have 56 inch chest. Modi needs to speak in favour of people, farmers and youth and introduce schemes in favour of people,” Siddaramaiah said.

“I have taken out delegations when I was chief minister for Mahadayi and loan waiver but BJP MP’s Nalin and Shobha have not uttered a single word in front of Narendra Modi. Do we want these silent MPs who set fire to become an MP again? Indira Gandhi had opened the bank but Modi is closing the bank by merging Vijaya Bank to Bank of Baroda,” he lashed out.

“I think Nalin Kumar Kateel will be the candidate as he is the product of RSS laboratory that creates communal violence. Provocative speeches, communal violence and disturbing peace and harmony of the district is the contribution of BJP leaders such as Nalin Kumar Kateel, Prathap Simha, Shobha Karandlaje and Ananth Kumar,” he said.

"Modi promised to bring back black money and credit Rs 15 lac in the accounts of the people. He spoke about ‘acche din,’ but ‘acche din' has come only for Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya. They all ran from the country because of Modi and BJP,” blamed Siddaramaiah and urged party workers to ensure BJP is defeated and Congress emerges victorious in the elections.

KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said, "Our party needs to be ready ahead of elections and we are conducting Parivarthana Yatra across the state. On March 9th, Rahul Gandhi is visiting Haveri to address the people. Upcoming Lok Sabha elections will decide our country’s future. Five years ago, Modi had promised to bring changes regarding employment, farmers, bring back black money and make this country corruption free. Today Modi arrived to Gulbarga. Modi never spoke about the promises that he gave five years ago which are not fulfilled. During the tenure of Modi government the country has witnessed the highest percentage of unemployment. Youth were supporting Modi with a hope of getting jobs and have fallen prey to Modi’s speeches. His achievement in five years is nothing but failure.”

“Central government never stood in favour of farmers in last five years. When Siddaramaiah was chief minister, he was in favour of farmers and waived farmer’s loans. BJP criticized us by saying that Congress has given lollipop. But the truth is there are no bigger cheats than BJP. Election will be the decision that people will take and will judge Modi for his performance is last five years. But there is no such achievement. BJP criticized that Kumaraswamy works through remote control. Narendra Modi is the remote control of Ambani and Adani,” Rao said.

He further said that Pulwama attack was a security failure. “We praise the step taken as retaliation to the Pulwama attack but using this for playing politics is wrong. Yeddyurappa claims BJP will get 22 seats due to the attack. BJP knows to gain vote in the name of army, Sri Ram as they don’t have other ideologies. With Vajpayee and Modi as Prime ministers, why was Ram Mandir not built? BJP is just using Ram Mandir issue to gain votes,” lashed out Rao.

"People did not see the developments done by Congress as BJP attacked the sentiments of the people. This is why we have lost assembly elections,” said Dinesh Gundu Rao.

District-in-charge minister U T Khader said," Today we are organising Parivarthana Yatra to ensure Congress dominates upcoming Lok sabha elections and to make sure that Congress candidates emerge victorious. It’s our dream to make Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister of this country. Under Siddaramaiah’s tenure several people friendly schemes were introduced. Central government needs to answer people which are the schemes introduced for the favour of people. They are just playing politics with human sentiments. There has been no discussion in the parliament about farmers, youth and employment issues. They need to answer people why NITI Ayog president, RBI governor, CBI chief, Supreme Court judge gave resignation.”

Khader took a dig at Modi and said that ‘chowkidar has turned chor’. He cited Supreme Court advocate general citing missing documents pertaining to Rafael deal as proof for his statement.

Congress leader C M Ibrahim said, "Narendra Modi is an unfortunate prime minister that our country has seen in 70 years. Our country has seen highest percentage of unemployment during Modi’s tenure. Demonetisation move was taken to enhance digital transactions. But Modi does not know the troubles of people, especially small vendors. Why Modi is so concerned about Muslim women and the triple talaq issue when Modi himself has no family.”

“ RSS had said that those who shake hands with Pakistan, their hands will be cut off. When Modi visited Pakistan and hugged the leaders, why were his hands not cut off? Why Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat was silent. Narendra Modi will not be prime minister again, people will answer back,” Ibrahim said.

"Congress will build Ram Mandir by joining two communities together. Modi never called for a single meeting with regard to Ram Mandir. He is using the issue to just gain votes,” alleged C M Ibrahim.

MLC Ivan D Souza, former MLAs J R Lobo, Abhayachandra Jain, Shakuntala Shetty, corporator Kavitha Sanil, district Youth Congress president Mithun Rai, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA Mohiuddin Bava and others were present.

District Congress president Harish Kumar welcomed the gathering.