Atmosphere of fear in country, situation similar to Pak: Rahul

Against the backdrop of political developments in Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today claimed the situation in the country was similar to that in Pakistan under "dictatorship".

At an event here, he alleged there was an atmosphere of fear in the country and the Constitution was under "severe attack", with even the institutions such as the judiciary and the press being suppressed and threatened.

His remarks came hours after BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa was sworn-in as the chief minister of Karnataka.

While the Congress-JD(S) combine in the state has been claiming a majority with the support of 117 MLAs, the BJP has 104 seats in the Assembly which has 224 elected members. Polling was not held in two seats. The House has a nominated seat.

"The Constitution is under severe attack in the country... In Karnataka, the MLAs are on one side and the Governor on the other and you know what attempt is being made," Gandhi said.

"The JD(S) leader has said its MLAs were offered Rs 100 crore," the Congress president said, apparently referring to H D Kumaraswami who had made the allegation.

Gandhi said, "One after another, you can see in every democratic institution in the country,..the RSS is trying to induct its people."
He said, "There is fear in the judiciary, there is fear in the press, and even the BJP's members of Parliament are scared as they cannot speak a single word before the prime minister."
He said, "Modi calls Mehul Choksi as Mehul bhai. He knows Choksi and Nirav Modi well. Modi did not respond to my request to waive farm loans in the entire country."