Modi accuses Congress of nurturing terrorism and looting defence sector

Ballari, Bengaluru: Stepping up the attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday alleged that for the sake of vote bank politics, the Congress had nurtured, given shelter and surrendered to terror.

Wading into the controversy over the movie ‘The Kerala Story’, at his campaign meeting in Ballari, Modi said: “In the recent years, terrorism has taken a new form. While sounds of bombs and pistols can be heard, there are efforts towards making society hollow within. 'The Kerala Story,' which is in discussion these days, shows this new face of terrorism.”

“The movie sheds light on how terrorism is damaging society. And now, Congress is supporting those elements who are defending terrorism by trying to ban this film,” he alleged.

The Prime Minister also addressed a public rally and took out a road show at Tumakuru. Soon after landing at the helipad in Tumakuru, he rode in his bullet-proof car, standing on the running board. The Prime Minister waved at the crowd that cheered him with chants of "Modi-Modi". The entire stretch was lined up with the BJP flags, festoons and Mr Modi's posters.

Addressing a public meeting in Ballari, the Prime Minister said, "To make Karnataka the number one state in the country, law and order are important. Karnataka's remaining free from terror is equally important. The BJP has always been harsh against terror. But whenever there is action against terror, the Congress gets a stomach ache."

" I am surprised that, for the sake of its vote bank, the Congress has surrendered before terror. Can such a party protect Karnataka and its civilians in any way? Under the climate of terror, the industries here — the IT industry, farmers and the rich culture and heritage here will be destroyed, " Mr Modi said.

Noting that the Congress has lost the courage to speak against terror, the Prime Minister alleged that for the sake of vote bank politics, the party has nurtured and given shelter to terror.

"Even courts have expressed worry about this nature of terror. The film made on such a terror conspiracy, The Kerala Story is under discussion. It is said the film is based on the terrorists' deceitful policies and conspiracies in just one state. Such a beautiful state of the country, where people are hardworking and talented. This film brings out the terror conspiracies happening in that state," he said.

"It is unfortunate that the Congress can be seen standing with this terror trend that is seeking to ruin the country. The Congress is even indulging in backdoor political bargaining with people with terror inclinations. The people of Karnataka should be cautious about the Congress," he said.

At Tumakuru, he recalled former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that if his government sends Rs1 from Delhi, only 15 paise reaches people on the ground, Modi said that the former prime minister himself, in a way, had admitted that the Congress is an 85 per cent commission party.
"Even today, the identity of the Congress is 85 per cent commission party," he noted.

Talking about Sudan's civil war and the government's efforts to get stranded Indians there back to the country through "Operation Kaveri", the Prime Minister alleged that even at times of such a crisis, the Congress did not stand with the country.

"The Congress wanted to do politics on the issue and take advantage of the Sudan crisis here in the Karnataka elections, as several people stranded there were from the state," Modi said.

While claiming that his government has been successful in getting Indians back from crisis-hit areas, he said the Congress will have to pay the price in this election for playing politics at a time of crisis.

He made a point to chant "Bajrang Bali Ki Jai " and quoted a line from noted Kannada poet Kuvempu's poem hailing Lord Hanuman. "The BJP is coming (to power) with a thumping majority. There was nothing preplanned, but a mega roadshow happened due to the overwhelming crowd," he said.
He claimed that the Opposition Congress has a problem with those chanting "Jai Bajrang Bali".

Modi alleged that the Congress party ‘looted’ the defence sector of the country and his accusation against the Congress was that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has started to make ‘profits’ nowadays which was not seen from its days of inception and it (HAL) was ‘destroyed’ by Congress regime.

Under Congress regime, he alleged that HAL’s was allegedly “looted” and “none of the works got cleared without availing 85 per cent commission” and said the BJP government has established defence modern factories and making defence forces strong.