The coalition government in Karnataka run by the Congress party and a “remote-controlled” chief minister has stalled the Union government's benefits to state farmers, alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday while launching the Bharatiya Janata Party's Vijaya Sankalpa Rally in Kalburgi district.
Slamming the ruling coalition of the Congress and the JD(S), Modi said, “The state government has not waived off farm loans as promised. Now, it is also stalling the central scheme—the direct benefit transfer to farmers. While the farmers' income support scheme promises to pay Rs 75,000 crore to farmers with five or less than five acres of land and the first installment of Rs 2,000 is being disbursed, the Karnataka government has not given us (Centre) the list of eligible beneficiaries till date. They are afraid of the farmers chanting 'Modi Modi'.” The prime minister elaborated on various schemes implemented by his government, while dubbing the state government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy as “anti-farmer”.
“If the Centre sends one rupee to the poor, all 100 paise reaches him. No one can siphon off a single paise. Our government has identified eight crore ghost beneficiaries who exist only on paper but avail all the welfare benefits. By weeding out these fake beneficiaries, we have saved Rs 1.10 lakh crore. It is now clear that people who used to take home this Rs 1.10 lakh crore are upset. I will not be afraid of any one in India or be it Pakistan, because I have the support of 125 crore Indians,” said Modi.
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Targeting the united opposition, Modi said the country suffered due to the leaders with vested interests. “The corrupt leaders are against new India and its new policy. They are afraid of a “Majboot Sarkar” (strong government) and want a “Mazboor Sarkar” (helpless government), like how it is in Karnataka,” the prime minister said.
Exhorting people to support a stable government, Modi said, “Sometimes, you pay a hefty price for a small mistake, and people of Karnataka know it better. After 30 years, Delhi has got a majority government. Modi is the reason for the hardships faced by the corrupt, so they keep chanting 'Modi hatao Modi hatao'. Let me tell you this. The opposition is uniting to get rid of Modi. But Modi is working to get rid of terrorism. The coalition loots people and shares the booty. Should you not save the country from them? Don't you want the future of your children to be secure and the country safe?”
Earlier, rebel Congress MLA from Chincholi Umesh Jadhav was welcomed into the BJP fold by state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa, a few minutes before Modi's arrival. While Jadhav is tipped to be the BJP candidate to take on Congress stalwart Mallkarjun Kharge in Kalburgi in the upcoming Parliament polls, no formal announcement was made as Jadhav's resignation is yet to be accepted by the assembly speaker pending a disqualification petition against him.
Modi, however, steered clear of targeting Kharge on his hometurf. He said that his government had set up a new development board for nomadic communities (including the Banjara community), while thanking the leaders from Koli community for their support. Both these communities dominate the Kalburgi district and a dent in their support would put Kharge in a precarious position.
Jadhav, who got a rousing welcome, hailed the “nationalist” party and also expressed his disgruntlement with the Congress and Kharge.
“I am happy and proud to be part of the BJP. I am moved by the rousing welcome given to me. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earned good repute world over and I want to see him as the PM a second time. The battle will be between an ordinary MLA and a big leader (Kharge). I want to set a new precedence and show how one should behave with the common man and work hard towards development. Give me an opportunity and I will prove to you I can do good work,” said Jadhav. He was being cheered by leaders Malikayya Guttedar and Baburao Chinchansur, who, too, quit Congress last year to join the BJP.
