'Scared' Congress fielded those who had stopped campaigning: PM's swipe at Sonia Gandhi
Shivamogga (K'taka) (PTI): In a swipe at the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the "scared" party brought in its veteran leader Sonia Gandhi for campaigning in the Karnataka election after its "lies did not work".
Without mentioning the name of the former Congress chief, Modi told an election rally here: "Now, the Congress is so afraid and scared that when their lies did not work, then those who are not taking part in campaigning are being brought here. The Congress has started dumping the responsibility of defeat on each other".
Gandhi, who largely stayed away from campaigning and public rallies since 2019 Lok Sabha polls reportedly due to health reasons, addressed her first election meeting in Karnataka, which votes on May 10, at Hubballi on Saturday.
The Prime Minister also said the Congress' "balloon of lies is no more working as people have burst it".
As Modi was presented a Hanuman idol and a saffron colour 'Shivaji' turban, the crowd roared with 'Jai Sri Ram' (Hail Lord Ram) chants while the Prime Minister raised 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai' (Hail Hanuman) slogans.
Modi said he was touched by the overwhelming response to his roadshow held in Bengaluru earlier on Sunday.
"It was supposed to be a long roadshow today but due to the NEET exam, I told our party that our exam (election) is on May 10 whereas children's exam is today. Hence, we should take care of their exam. So, we did roadshow in the morning and finished it early," Modi said.
"Despite being a Sunday, the strength Bengaluru displayed, the faith it reposed and the love it demonstrated was touching my heart. I will be indebted to Karnataka," Modi said.
He said he wanted to pay back the love and blessings showered on him by the people.
"I want to give you original guarantee for your love and blessings, I will develop Karnataka and refund your love with interest," Modi promised.
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Karnataka Lokayukta raids places connected to eight government officers
Bengaluru (PTI): The Lokayukta sleuths on Wednesday raid places connected to eight government officers, including a Joint Commissioner of Transport Department, who are accused of amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
The places being raided are connected to the officers including the Joint Commissioner of Transport, Bengaluru, Shobha; Kadur Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr S N Umesh; Basavakalyan based Inspector in the minor irrigation department, Ravindra; Khanapur Tehsildar Prakash Sridhar Gaekwad; retired Road Transport Officer in Tumakuru, S Raju; Assistant Executive Engineer in Gadag Municipality, Huchesh alias Huchappa; Ballari based Welfare Officer in the Backward Class Department R H Lokesh and Junior Engineer in Raichur based BESCOM office Huliraja.
The sleuths started raids at multiple locations including houses and offices of these officers in Bengaluru and elsewhere.
The Lokayukta is likely to share more details by the end of the day.
