Karnataka Election Not About Modi: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should understand that the Karnataka Assembly election was not about him.

Rahul Gandhi was reacting to PM Modi’s charge that he was "abused 91 times".

"You (Modi) come to campaign in Karnataka for elections but don't speak about Karnataka. You speak about yourself. You have to say what you did in Karnataka for the past three years. You also have to speak in your speeches about what you will be doing in the next five years, what will do for youth, education, health and to fight corruption," Rahul Gandhi was quoted by NDTV.

Rahul Gandhi as per report also said: "This election is not about you, it is about Karnataka's people and its future. You say Congress abused you 91 times, but you never speak about what you did for Karnataka. In your next speech, you speak about what you did and what you will do in the next five years."

Earlier, Modi had targeted the Congress over its party president Mallikarjun Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at him and said till now the party and its leaders had hurled various types of abuses at him 91 times.

"We take the names of all our leaders. You (Modi) come here and don't even take the name of your Chief Minister (Basavaraj Bommai) and (B S) Yediyurappa (former CM). Your speeches are all about Narendra Modi,” Rahul Gandhi was quoted as having said.

"Try taking the names of Bommai and Yediyurappa too one or two times, they will feel happy," he was quoted in the report as having said.

"This election is not about one person, not about Narendra Modi. Prime Minister has to understand this,” he was quoted in the report as having said. 

Rahul Gandhi as per the report also accused BJP of rampant corruption in Karnataka in the past three years.

“…taking 40 per cent commission in all kinds of work done by the government", Rahul Gandhi was quoted in the report as having.

He as per report also said: "they looted from the pockets of the common man and poor".

"It is not that the Prime Minister is not aware of this corruption and 40 per cent commission. He is aware of everything...so my question to PM is despite knowing about this loot for the last three years, did you take any action? You did not. Why? You should answer this to the people of Karnataka," he was quoted as having said.

He also urged the Prime Minister to answer what he did to get Karnataka its right share of tax money, how he helped the state during floods, and how he tried to resolve the inter-state water dispute between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, the report said.

(With PTI inputs)