PM launches scathing attack on Cong govt in Karnataka, says it's engaged in "loot"
Kalaburagi, Mar 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka alleging deterioration of law and order situation, and accused it of indulging in "loot", when the people are in trouble.
Formally launching the party's Lok Sabha election campaign in the State here in the home turf of Congress President M Mallikarujn Kharge, he claimed that the people of Karnataka have decided to make BJP victorious in the state.
"The anger that you have towards Congress in Karnataka, I can understand. Congress is a party that despite changing their costume number of times, their misdeeds don't change. That's the reason people of Karnataka are awake and are angry towards it," Modi said.
According to political analysts, Karnataka is very important for the BJP in south India as it's only here that it had held power in the past. BJP bagged 25 seats out of the total 28 in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. An independent backed by the party had also won.
ALSO READ: Kodagu police arrest 3 accused absconding for over a decade in separate cases
Addressing a mega public rally here, Modi said people of Karnataka are disenchanted with the Congress government in Karnataka within a short span of time. "This shows that people are aware of Congress' truth. Congress is not ready to improve despite getting several chances."
Alleging that the law and order situation in Karnataka has deteriorated, the PM said that anti-social elements are getting protection openly and fear is being instilled into the minds of the people. "When people are worried, Congress is busy with loot," he said.
Corruption cannot be separated from the Congress, Modi said and added, "For these parivarwadis (dyansts), corruption is their oxygen, without corruption these people cannot even breathe in politics."
Making big promises ahead of elections and filling their pockets after polls is the Congress' job, Modi alleged and charged the Congress with making Karnataka "family ATM".
To meet the "expenses of the party and the family, earnings of the people of the state are being supplied", the Prime Minister alleged.
"Wherever public money is used to fill the stomach, pockets and treasury of some people, bad governance, disorder and anarchy spreads there. Instead of fulfilling the promises made ahead of elections, the situation of Karnataka is deteriorating day by day," he said.
BJP Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwanth Khuba, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, and the party's candidate from Gulbarga Lok Sabha seat Umesh Jadhav were present.
Looking at the enthusiasm among the people, it looks like Karnataka has decided to make BJP victorious in a record number of seats, Modi said, adding that Karnataka has decided what the verdict would be even before the announcement of elections.
Stating that he has been in South India for the last two days and before that he was in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, he said that journalists in Srinagar have blogged that after 1988 Srinagar had never seen such a big rally by any political party.
"The scenes and passion I saw in Srinagar, the enthusiasm I saw towards India. I can say with confidence that the country is ready to fulfill its aspirations," he said.
Highlighting his tour in various parts of south India during his campaign for the last two days, the Prime Minister said people are looking at BJP with hope.
"Across south India, people from all sections and fields have given their immense support to BJP. Looking at this huge support that BJP is getting in the south, Congress and INDIA alliance people are saying, one of your (Karnataka) leaders even said it in parliament, our opponents are saying -- it will be BJP this time," he said.
Pointing out that Congress had promised free power ahead of the assembly polls last year, but people got power cut, Modi said that without electricity, farmers are unable to run their pump sets.
Earlier the BJP government was giving Rs 4,000 to farmers in addition to central assistance under the PM Kisan scheme but the Congress government has stopped it, he alleged.
The situation of Congress' "loot" is such that even for small development works, they don't have money, and legislators have been told that there is no money, Modi alleged.
Addressing the crowd he said, "Can a government function like this? Can it do good to people? Can they fulfill promises?"
Congress too is aware that they cannot form the government once again in Karnataka, Modi said.
"So the Congress' only agenda is to loot as much as possible. Will you let them loot," he asked the crowd.
"When the Congress government in the state is looting you, it is important for your voice to be heard in the parliament. To save Karnataka from the loot I have to make a 'Raksha Kavach' in the form of MPs, so that the state is monitored and I get information in Delhi every moment, so that I can stop the loot," Modi said.
Charging Congress with defaming the country, the Prime Minister said, "When we say 'Bharat' is Mother of Democracy, the whole world accepts it, but Congress gets a stomach ache hearing this. Congress is defaming the country, its heritage and traditions."
He also asked the people to give a guarantee to him that BJP will win in every constituency and Congress doesn't open its account in the state.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Gujarat: Two minor Muslim girls sexually abused by teacher, families allege communal bias in probe
Amreli (Gujarat): In a harrowing incident that has sent shockwaves through the Bharat Nagar municipality school in Amreli, two minor Muslim girls—Zainab (8) and Safeena (10)—were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by their teacher for eight consecutive days. The disturbing crime came to light when Zainab’s family found her sobbing in a corner, leading them to uncover the horrific details of the abuse. The incident occurred just days before International Women’s Day on March 8, at a time when the country was making tall claims about women’s empowerment.
According to a detailed report published in Twocircles.net, the accused teacher, identified as Mahendra Patel, has a troubling history of alleged physical assault cases. However, families of the survivors claim that he had managed to evade legal consequences due to his “RSS links” and “Hindu identity.”
Zainab’s elder brother, speaking to Twocircles.net, expressed deep anguish over the ordeal his younger sister had to endure.
“What the teacher, Mahendra Patel, did with my sister is terrible. My sister is only eight years old and a student in standard three. We are still in shock, but we have decided to raise our voices,” he said.
Safeena’s father was too traumatised to speak, but her uncle alleged that the incident was not just a case of sexual violence but also a reflection of growing communal hate against the Muslim community.
“All the students at this municipal school are Muslims. The incident is a repercussion of the rapidly growing hate against Muslims. We are not politically backed like the accused, but we have self-respect, and we can sense the injustice,” he said.
According to Twocircles.net, Mahendra Patel had a pattern of abusive behavior. He allegedly forced students to consume alcohol and sometimes even poured liquor into their water bottles to impair their senses. The survivors’ families claim that the teacher manipulated and intimidated the children, forcing them into silence.
Zainab’s uncle described the difficulty in seeking justice, particularly given the political affiliations of the accused.
“Such cases of physical abuse are beyond disgust. But the way to reach justice is truly difficult—particularly when the culprit is associated with Hindutva outfits. He also threatened our daughter to silence her,” he alleged.
Local Muslims in the area have pointed to a larger pattern of negligence towards schools in Muslim-majority localities. The Bharat Nagar municipality school, where the crime occurred, reportedly operates with only two teachers. Many in the community believe that the lack of accountability and proper oversight allowed Patel to continue his predatory actions unchecked.
The parents of the survivors first grew suspicious when they noticed the foul smell of liquor on their children. Concerned about what might be happening at school, they gathered a group of locals and devised a plan to catch the accused in the act. The following day, they arrived at the school premises during lunch hours and allegedly caught Patel red-handed.
Gujarat-based reporter and social worker Rafique, speaking to Twocircles.net, confirmed the sequence of events.
“Mahendra was harassing the kids for many days. A lot of people have witnessed the incident. When locals, including Zainab’s parents, suddenly opened the doors, they found the teacher involved in the obscene act,” he said.
Following the discovery, the families of the survivors immediately approached the police to file a complaint. However, as reported by Twocircles.net, the police allegedly took an unusually long time—around seven to eight hours—to register an FIR. The families and community members suspect that this delay was due to the accused’s Hindu identity and his alleged links with the ruling BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS.
Zainab’s family was also allegedly pressured to drop the case in exchange for money.
“We were asked to take Rs 50 lakhs and not to pursue the case because the perpetrator is closely associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS,” alleged Zainab’s uncle.
Despite these attempts, the families, backed by local Muslims, refused to accept any settlement and demanded strict action against the accused.
As news of the crime spread, the Patel community and Hindutva organisations allegedly rallied behind the accused and reached the police station in his support. Meanwhile, local Muslims held demonstrations demanding justice. Influential members of the community, under the banner of Darul Uloom Mehbubiyah, wrote to authorities seeking strict punishment for Patel.
The second teacher at the school, who was reportedly uninvolved in the crime, also joined the protests in support of the survivors. Protesters emphasized that this was not Patel’s first offense, urging authorities to conduct a deeper investigation.
Eventually, a case was registered against Mahendra Patel under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and he was arrested. However, community members believe that the case requires a more thorough and independent investigation, as several other linked offenses may have gone unnoticed.
Gujarat-based activist Mujahid Nafees, who has been advocating for justice in the case, shared his concerns with Twocircles.net.
“We have met the families and held a protest. We have also written a letter to the DGP, urging him for compensation. The communal angle is quite clear in the case. The police took around seven to eight hours to register an FIR,” he said.
The survivors’ families have demanded that the case be tried in a fast-track special court. They have also called for the formation of an independent investigation panel to ensure transparency and accountability in the probe.
Nafees pointed out that the involvement of right-wing groups in the case raises larger questions about the intersection of communalism, sexism, and political influence.
“On a social dais, this case exposes an awful blend of communalism, sexism, and politics-backed terror against Muslims and girls. Other families who came across the incident through the news now fear for the security of their daughters. Seeing a heinous criminal being cheered up by hateful throngs not only breaks the myth of alleged development in Gujarat but also annihilates the trust of the Muslim community,” he concluded.
(Names have been changed to protect the privacy and identity of the minor survivors.)
This report is based on details published in Twocircles.net.
