In poll-bound Karnataka, PM Modi rips into Congress for 'insulting' party chief Mallikarjun Kharge
Belagavi, Feb 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of disrespecting Karnataka, while alleging that its President Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from the state, was insulted by the party during its plenary session in Chhattisgarh.
He said Kharge was insulted and disrespected by the party, in favour of a "family", apparently indicating the Nehru-Gandhi family, despite the Congress chief's seniority and age.
"I want to remind you how Congress hates Karnataka. Insulting Karnataka's leaders is part of Congress' old culture. From whomever Congress' family feels troubled, disrespecting them begins in that party. History stands witness to the insult meted out to the leaders such as S Nijalingappa and Veerendra Patil before the family. Everyone in Karnataka knows it," Modi said.
Addressing a massive gathering here, he said now once again, one more leader from Karnataka has been insulted by loyalists of the family.
"I have great respect for Mallikarjun Kharge, a son of this land, who has about 50 years of parliamentary or legislature experience. He has tried to do whatever he could in the service of people. But I was sad looking at how Kharge, who is the President of the party and a senior in age, was treated during the Congress' session in Chhattisgarh," the Prime Minister said.
"The weather was hot, everyone standing there feeling the heat was natural, but in that heat the good fortune of umbrella's shade was not there for Kharge who is Congress chief and senior in age. The umbrella's shade was for someone standing next to him. This shows Kharge is Congress President just for the sake of it, and looking at the way he is treated, everyone can see and understand, as to whose hands the remote control is in," he further said.
The Prime Minister was speaking after releasing the 13th instalment of funds worth over Rs 16,000 crore under the PM-KISAN scheme for beneficiaries across the country and laying the foundation stone and dedicating to the nation multiple development projects worth more than Rs 2,700 crore here.
Noting that several political parties in the country are in the clutches of dynastic politics, Modi said: "We have to free the country from these clutches. People of Karnataka should be cautious about parties like Congress."
He claimed that "Congress people" are so disappointed that they feel that until Modi is alive, they cannot do anything.
"So all of them are saying and raising slogans 'Marja Modi, Marja Modi' (Modi die, Modi die), some people are even busy digging 'kabr' (grave). They are saying 'Modi teri kabr khudegi' (Modi your grave will be dug)...but the country is saying 'Modi tera kamal khilega' (Modi your lotus will bloom)."
Assembly elections are due in Karnataka by May.
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HMPV: No need to worry as virus is not dangerous, take precautions, says CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Jan 7: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) of which two cases have been detected in the state is not dangerous, but it is good to take precautions.
He told people there is no need to worry, but appealed to them to be cautious.
"We discussed HMPV (at health department meeting). It is not a very worrying virus. It is not the one that is prevalent in China. The virus that has been detected is an existing one. It infects children, aged people and those with less immunity," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "The virus is not dangerous. I have spoken to several doctors and experts, but it is good to take precautions."
"I appeal to people, there is no need to worry. But be cautious and take precautions. Health department has advised dos and don'ts, follow them," he added.
The Indian Council of Medical Research has detected two cases of HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, the Union health ministry said on Monday.
A three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has already been discharged, the ministry said.
An eight-month-old male infant with a history of bronchopneumonia tested positive for HMPV on January 3 after being admitted to Baptist Hospital. He is now recovering, it said.
Neither of the patients had any history of international travel.
To a question about Home Minister G Parameshwara calling a dinner meeting of Congress leaders, ministers and lawmakers from SC/ST communities on January 8, and then postponing it following instruction from the AICC general secretary, the CM said, "I don't know about him calling a meeting and then cancelling it. I will talk to him."
