The ongoing war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in battleground Karnataka touched a terse pitch on Saturday with both, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi taking direct rude swipes at each other.
Modi was quick to launch an offensive against the Congress after Rahul in a tweet dared him to speak for five minutes on the eight tickets to the Reddy Brothers Gang.
"Dear Modi ji, You talk a lot. Problem is your actions don't match your words. Here's a primer on your candidate selection in Karnataka. It plays like an episode of "Karnataka's Most Wanted," Rahul tweeted attaching a video grab of 80 seconds showing Yeddyurappa greeting Reddy brothers and Sushma Swaraj blessing them. It also had photographs of 11 "tainted" BJP candidates who have been given tickets.
A running ticker said, "Dear PM Modi, will you speak for 5 minutes on 8 tickets to the Reddy Brothers Gang. Making someone who has 23 cases of corruption, cheating, forgery as your CM candidate. When will you speak on your Top 11 leaders facing corruption charges? ...Awaiting your reply! PS: You can refer to a paper for answers."
Soon after, PM Modi upped the ante during his tour of Karnataka.
"After May 15 (when poll results will be declared), the Indian National Congress will be reduced to 'PPP Congress' – P for Punjab, P for Puducherry, and P for Parivar (family)," he said at an election rally in Gadag.
Trying to apportion corruption tag on Congress, Modi said, "Congress is not bothered about the depletion of natural resources here...Congress sees corruption opportunities in the forests of Karnataka. Corruption is key to the existence of the Congress."
Modi threw several stinging barbs at the Congress. Addressing a public meeting at Shivamogga, he said, "There is no difference between the 'C' of Congress and 'C' of Corruption. Even now they cry foul of demonetisation."
He chastised Congress for using abusive language for BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa. "This is not acceptable at all. Yeddyurappa Ji is a respectable leader," Modi said. At a rally in Tumakuru, Modi blamed the Congress for not doing anything for farmers.
"From the time of Indira Gandhi, Congress party has only fooled poor people of the society to win elections. Congress was never interested in providing water to the farmers. They were busy filling their safes with illegal money," he said.
Modi's all barbs were met with full force by Congress' chief ministerial candidate, Siddaramaiah through tweets as well as in rallies.
In a tweet, Siddaramaiah said he was happy that PM Modi has made corruption an issue in this Election because that is his weakest point. "You are making baseless allegations of corruption about our Govt. Can you speak for 5 minutes on the ethics of using the Reddy Bros' to win an election?" asked Siddaramaiah.
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