Vijayapura (Karnataka), April 23 (). Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday while campaigning in Lingayat-dominated north Karnataka invoked 12th century social reformer Basavanna in his scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government in the state.
He was addressing a huge public meeting here on Sunday, the first day of his two-day tour of the state. Assembly elections are to be held in the state on May 10.
Rahul Gandhi said that unlike the medieval social reformer who taught social equality and helping the needy, the Prime Minister has befriended and helped business tycoon Gautam Adani to make him richer and richer.
The Congress leader, who has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha and vacated his official residence, said he was punished for speaking the truth, but would continue to speak the truth.
Rahul Gandhi said, when I questioned about PM’s relationship with Adani, he erased my speech from the record of Lok Sabha, but Lok Sabha is not the only place where I can speak the truth. I can and am speaking the truth everywhere, even here in front of you all.
Criticizing the BJP government in the state on corruption issues, he said that the Prime Minister and the BJP mention Basavanna but do not follow his values.
Rahul said, the present government of the state was not elected by the people. They have formed the government by buying the MLA, who is involved in corruption. But this time they will not get a chance, because Congress will win 150 seats and this 40 percent commission eating BJP government will get only 40 seats.
Stating that the previous UPA government at the Center had prepared a caste-based survey, Rahul Gandhi challenged the Prime Minister to release its findings to the public.
Earlier, the former Congress President took part in a massive road show.
On Sunday, on the occasion of Basava Jayanti, he visited the Basavanna Math at Kudal Sangam and also had darshan.
SGK
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