Modi pans JDS-Cong govt over "development-free corruption"

Tearing into the Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused it of being "steeped" in arrogance and interested only in "development-free corruption".

Targeting the ruling coalition over its contradictions and power struggle, Modi said it seemed as if they were in power "only to play musical chair", and mocked its much vaunted loan waiver scheme as one of the "most cruel jokes" on farmers.

Modi said those in power think that just because they had formed a government "by hook or crook" they can get away with anything, but people would soon teach them a lesson for misgovernance.

"People want corruption-free government, but Karnataka government wants development-free corruption," Modi told BJP's booth-level workers of the state, while mounting a trenchant attack on the ruling dispensation.

The interaction with the BJP's polling booth-level functionaries through video conferencing was part of the party's 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' outreach aimed at galvanising the organisational apparatus ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.

Referring to reported squabbles between the ruling alliance partners, Modi said,"I can understand the pain of the people of Karnataka. Every day there is news only about who is happy or who isunhappy. And for what? For some ministerial posts.

"It seems as if people are in power in Karnataka only to play musical chair," Modi said.

He told party workers that when those in power were not interested in the welfare of people, it was their duty to become "the voice of the people".

The prime minister asked BJP workers to "wake up" the government from slumber.

Talking about agrarian distress and farmer suicides, he accused the H D Kumaraswamy government of being "steeped in arrogance".

Targeting the state government over its much touted loan waiver scheme, he said, "What they have done in the name of loan waiver will go down in the history as one of the most cruel jokes on farmers.After six months in power, news reports say the government could only benefit a handful of farmers."