The people of Karnataka are now regretting voting in the Congress last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told News18 Network in an exclusive interview, adding that once famous as India’s tech hub, Bengaluru is now infamous as the ‘tanker hub’ due to crippling water woes.
“The economic condition of Karnataka is in a state of complete bankruptcy. They (Congress) made big promises and then said, if this happens, you will get this; if that happens, you will get this. This means you are cheating the public… They cancelled the scheme for farmers, and there was no reason for it. Look at Bengaluru, it has played a big role in raising India’s reputation across the world. It used to be known as the tech hub and now, in no time, it has been turned into a tanker hub. And tankers also have a mafia culture. People are yearning for water,” PM Modi said while speaking to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi and News18 Kannada Editor Hariprasad.
Misgovernance of the Congress, the Prime Minister said, has increased the public support of the BJP which had lost last years Assembly elections in the state.
“In such a short time, they still have unresolved issues like the post of CM. While the CM has taken oath, it has not been settled who it really is. There are a lot of people who consider themselves as the CM. If you look at the law-and-order situation, there are blasts and murders taking place… When it comes to scholarships for the youth, they have reduced the amount as well as the number… They have taken such negative decisions… Look at the deputy CM. He is asking for votes for his brother so that he can become CM. Everyone is playing games.”
“As far as the BJP is concerned, we work with team spirit. BS Yediyurappa is one of our tall leaders, but the whole team is working together and working hard to move ahead,” he added.
Asked about the Centre-State tussle over drought compensation for Karnataka, PM Modi said: “Let’s consider the previous government led by Siddaramaiah. When there was a drought back then, I called their entire team as Prime Minister and held discussions with them. We sat together and figured that we first must create schemes for water conservation.”
“Now, as far as the state disaster relief fund is concerned, our government has already given the Centre’s share to the state. Our inter-ministerial team has also, under the rules and practices laid down before, visited the affected areas and conducted a survey. And it is the same process every time,” he further said.
It’s a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, where elections are scheduled in two phases on April 26 and May 7.
Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP had won 25 seats in the 2019 general elections, while an Independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious. The Congress and JD(S), which were running a coalition government back then and fought the elections together, had secured one seat each.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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