All India Congress Committee (AICC) national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed BJP and alleged that the party was playing divisive politics and filling hatred among people.
Addressing media here on Thursday, March 29, Priyanka said, “It is a known fact how BJP misrules and misgoverns the states where they have power. Now they continue doing the same at the Centre. While the Congress government under Siddaramaiah has worked towards creating healthy environment, we have seen how BJP continued to neglect farmers’ issues and challenges that they face. The BJP has created a lot of distress in Dakshina Kannada,”
“Mangaluru is a significant contributor for the GDP in the state. This area is known for social justice, as a hub of education and also as cradle of banking sector,” she added.
“The state government’s various policy initiatives in terms of waiving farmer’s loan, assisting with drift irrigation farming and many more have benefitted thousands of farmers. The policies of the state government have ensured farmers’ benefit and growth in the state,” she informed.
“However, we see total disregard and apathy coming from the Centre for the policies. The Centre’s import policies have been harming rubber plantations in the district. These policies have been drafted at the Centre at the cost of our farmers. They even said that areca is cardiogenic without any study, and evidence to back their claim. They are hurting and hitting out at the farmers of the district,” she said.
“We are constantly talking about development and they do not have any development agenda. The tried and tested politically patented strategy of BJP is about pitting one community against other, creating division in the minds of people in places which are known for peaceful co-existence. BJP wants to grow at any cost and at the cost of peace and harmony of this district,” Chaturvedi charged.
“This agenda of the party does not focus on development, but on creating hatred in the minds of people. We are committed to ensure that law and order prevails and we also see a political party which is hell bent on creating trouble. I am sure that people of Dakshina Kannada will ensure that these divisive policies will not thrive,” she said.
“Election dates have been announced and we can see in the last two days how BJP national president Amit Shah has helped us in campaigning claiming Yeddyurappa government as the number one corrupt government in the country. In another rally, he claimed that Modi’s policies are anti-people and anti-Dalit which is an admission of guilt. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the centre to resolve Mahadayi issue and to have dialogue with two states, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to answer. The CRPF headquarters which was supposed to come up in Karnataka is now moved away to a state,” she explained.
“In the year 2017, Karnataka faced one of the worst droughts. We were expecting some sympathy or else at least equality in distribution of funds. Karnataka received Rs 1,435.95 crore compared to Rs 8,196 crore to Maharashtra, Rs 3,894 crore to Gujarat, and Rs 2,153 crore to Rajasthan where BJP is ruling. Even the IBPS exam were conducted in English and Hindi, due to which Kannadigas found it difficult to appear as there was no option of Kannada. We questioned the Centre in this regard, but have received no answer,” she said.
“I am expecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to answer all these questions when he comes for campaigning in this area and I am also confident that people will turn their backs on divisive politics,” she concluded.
Chief whip of legislative council Ivan D’Souza, Mayor Bhaskar Moily and others were present.
