While dismissing the Janata Dal (S) as a party with limited influence in two or three districts, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah yesterday made the BJP the main target of his attack during a day-long visit to participate in a series of programmes in Mysore.
Speaking to reporters at the helipad and at the Congress function arranged for the release of a book at the Gandhi Square here, which had the look of a public meeting, he lashed out at both the Opposition parties, primarily targeting the BJP, accusing it of exploiting issues like religion and dharma for the sake of power.
Siddaramaiah charged that the BJP leaders were born to sow the seeds of communalism. They were igniting fire in the society by exploiting issues like God and dharma. The Congress, on the other hand, he claimed, had made great efforts to establish unity and harmony in the country.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would not become the Prime Minister at any cost, he said, attacking him by saying that in none of his speeches had he said a word of concern for the poor, dalit and the exploited sections. With such leaders at the helm of affairs, there would be no social justice or equality, Siddaramaiah cautioned, while releasing the book by District Youth Congress leader B J Vijayakumar
He also ridiculed the heads of some private sector companies for extending support to Modi, who, Siddarmaiah charged was misleading the country's youth. Their support to him was meaningless, he added.
Indirectly criticising the BJP for taking back former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa into its fold, he said those who were caught on charges of corruption and land-grab were in that party and some of them were behind bars too.
Siddaramaiah expressed confidence of the Congress winning 20-25 Lok Sabha seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
And called on party workers to work hard to prevent the BJP and the Janata Dal (S) from their conspiracy against the Congress.
"They are worried of the pro-people programmes launched by the government from the last eight months. They are against the welfare of those exploited and poor. They have conspired to defeat the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections," he told the workers, asking them to be vigilant against their conspiracy.
District incharge minister V Sreenivasa Prasad said, the government under Siddaramiah's leadership had effected 60 per cent of the promises the party had made in the Assembly polls by launching pro-people schemes like Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya, incentives to farmers among others. Congress workers should highlight this to the masses.
Mysore-Kodagu MP A H Viswanath also criticised the BJP and said that the Congress had formulated a number of welfare scheme for improving the lives of the people.
While speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah made a sharp criticism against the BJP and JD(S), accusing them of ignorning the backward classes while in power. He said, his government was safe and there was no threat to it.
