BENGALURU: Union HRD minister and BJP’s election in-charge in Karnataka, Prakash Javadekar, termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's temple visits as an election gimmick and sign of “pseudo Hinduism,” on Monday
Speaking to the media here, Mr. Javadekar said Mr Gandhi did not visit temples in New Delhi even on the day he was elected president of the party. "He goes to temples in Gujarat and Karnataka because there are elections. So it is a vote gimmick. But people are not fools. In our country illiterate intelligence is very powerful. Robust common sense works and people understand who is a real devotee and who is an election devotee."
He took a dig at the ruling Congress in Karnataka, saying on the one hand its leaders are visiting temples and on the other, issuing circulars about takeover of all temples, maths, under endowment department. The circular was later withdrawn hurriedly under public pressure, he pointed out.
He hit back at Mr Gandhi for the latter’s statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should learn from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about governance. “I am wondering what can Mr Narendra Modi learn from Mr Siddaramaiah. Bengaluru is a beautiful city, but Mr Siddaramaiah turned it into a pothole city. Bengaluru is a garden city, Mr Siddaramaiah turned it into garbage city. Bengaluru is city of lakes, Mr Siddaramaiah converted into lakes of fire and IT city become crime city”, he added.
The minister criticized the Congress for making ‘fun’ of Pakoda people. Congress was resorting to Pakoda parties. Making fun of pakoda wala could well mean an insult to the poor and insult to genuine hard working people. The Congress has thrived on middlemen culture, and on commission culture. They are criticizing Pakoda wala because the pakaoda wala not giving commission to the party, he added.
Mr. Javadekar said the party has a comprehensive plan to recharge the ground water table and save Bengaluru city from turning dry. However, he declined to share more details about party plan for Bengaluru development, saying the party would incorporate this plan its manifesto.
Accusing the Congress government of offering lip sympathy for the cause of farming community, Mr. Javadekar challenged Mr Siddaramaiah to emulate the BJP governments of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra which waived farm loans obtained from public sector banks.
