Congress divides people on caste, religious lines: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The crowd in Vijayapura, one of the most backward regions of north Karnataka, braved the sweltering heat as they waited patiently to hear PM Modi, who arrived three hours behind schedule. There was hardly anything to shelter the crowd from the blazing sun as temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius. A few lucky ones stood under the nearby trees.

Modi began his address by saying: “Such a massive crowd in this summer heat shows they want a change of government in the state…Some people, sitting in airconditioned offices, say there will be a fractured verdict in the Karnataka polls. They should come here to see BJP’s strength.” This is Modi’s 15th rally in Karnataka.

He is scheduled to address six more over the next three days. Quoting from the teachings of Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect, Modi criticised Congress for dividing society for political gains. “Basavanna worked for peaceful coexistence. But the Congress wants to divide people based on caste and religion. They want to break tradition and culture. But people of this land will not support Congress,” he said.


He accused the ministers of the state government of taking a “cut for every project”. “BJP works for the development of people.

But Congress is worried about protecting the interest of one family. Congress leaders told me that Rahul Gandhi could not convince voters in Karnataka. So, his mother Sonia Gandhi has come to the state.”