Congress president's only intention is to create confusion: Shobha Karandlaje

Bengaluru: The state BJP has come down heavily on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for addressing retired employees of HAL and Congress workers on the Rafale deal at the Minsk Square near the HAL corporate office in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Noting that the government had prohibited the holding of meetings or protest rallies at the Square, BJP state general secretary Shobha Karandlaje wondered who had authorised Mr Gandhi to address a rally at the spot.

“Neither HAL employees nor its retired employees attended that meeting. The HAL Employees’ Union has issued a statement saying none of its members were present. So then who was the meeting organised for? Only Mr Rahul Gandhi's chelas attended it,” she charged, alleging that the Congress president was only trying to create confusion among defence personnel by his " malicious campaign."

“His intention is to create misunderstanding and confusion on the Rafale deal,” the BJP MP claimed. Ms Karandlaje also mocked Bharatiya Janata Party’s rival parties over BSP chief Mayawati's reluctance to join hands with the Congress party in the coming Assembly elections in four northern states and the resignation of her party's minister in the coalition government in Karnataka.

“Where is the promised mahagatbandhan?” she asked, adding that it was only a façade created by all party leaders waving at the public in unison on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha (during Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's swearing in). The BJP leader claimed that the Chief Minister was busy visiting temples across the country, ignoring the needs of the state. “We virtually have no government in Karnataka,” she contended.