Kolar: Senior Congress leader and recently disqualified Congress MP Shri Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP at the ‘Jai Bharat’ rally in Karnataka’s Kolar on April 16, 2023. This is the first time for Shri Rahul Gandhi to visit the town after getting convicted in a defamation case for his statements at Kolar rally in 2019.

He also took a swipe on the Modi government and told them that he is not allowed to speak inside the Parliament. “PM Narendra Modi only works for Adani and the growth of his empire. Whenever I speak about Adani in Parliament, my mic is turned off. I even showed the picture of PM Modi sitting next to Adani in his aircraft, and I was forced to put down the image. If I ask the speaker about it, he only smiles and doesn’t answer my question. PM Modi will soon sell this country to Adani,” added former Congress President.

Meanwhile, Shri Rahul Gandhi also showed confidence in winning Karnataka in upcoming assembly polls. He said, “The Congress Party will fulfil all the poll promises soon after coming to power.” The Congress leader arrived in Karnataka on a two-day event to take part in a series of events in Kolar, Bengaluru and Bidar before going back to Delhi.

In the outgoing 224-member Assembly, the BJP currently has 119 seats, followed by the Congress with 75 and the JD (S) with 28 seats. Two seats are vacant.

Shri Rahul buys ‘Nandini’ ice cream, calls the dairy brand Karnataka’s Pride

BENGALURU: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on April 16, 2023, bought a ‘Nandini’ ice cream and termed the brand ‘Karnataka’s Pride’. ‘Nandini’ store was flanked by Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Shri D K Shivakumar and Party General Secretary Shri K C Venugopal and other Congress leaders.

He also termed ‘Nandini’, the flagship brand of Karnataka Milk Federation, the ‘BEST’.

‘RSS, BJP attacking democracy,’ says Shri Rahul Gandhi

Bhalki (Karnataka): Shri Rahul Gandhi addressed public meetings in Bhalki and Humnabad on April 17, 2023, in poll-bound Karnataka. The former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi said, “In India, if someone spoke of democracy for the first time and showed the path to it, it was Basavanna ji. Sadly, today people of RSS and BJP are attacking democracy. The thinking of Basavanna ji of participation by all, a place for all and that everyone should go ahead together is being attacked by BJP and RSS. They are spreading hatred and violence in India.”

Alleging widespread corruption in Karnataka under the BJP, Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi said, “You have to give 40% commission to get your work done, however big or small it might be. Contractors’ Association wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about it but Mr. Modi, who speaks volumes against corruption in his speeches, did not even give a single-line reply to the letter. BJP MLA’s son was caught with ` 8 crores, there is a series of scams in the recruitment of Assistant Professors, Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers and Police Sub-Inspectors, and yet Mr. Modi does not utter a word about it. They (BJP) are taking 40% commission from you.” He appealed to the people of Karnataka to elect Congress with a minimum of 150 seats, leaving no scope for BJP to purchase MLAs to form the government again.

Congress demands removal of reservation cap

Shri Rahul Gandhi also accused the BJP of neglecting the OBC community. Strongly arguing for removal of the 50% reservation cap, he said, “Mr. Modi alleged that I have insulted OBCs. I never insult anybody. I question why Mr. Modi, who talks of the development of OBCs, has hidden the 2011 caste census data. If the data related to caste is released, we will come to know the population size of every community, and formulate better programmes to involve them. I demand removal of the 50% reservation cap. I demand reservation to Dalits and Adivasis proportionate to their population percentage. I am sure Mr. Modi and BJP would never do it. If they can’t, let them get aside, and we will do it.”

‘BJP did not fulfil its promises’

Attacking BJP for its ‘false promises’ that never materialised, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that Congress would fulfil its four promises a monthly payment of 2,000 to every woman head of the family, 200 units of free electricity to every family every month, 10 kg of rice free of cost under ‘Anna Bhagya Scheme’, and monthly unemployment compensation of 2,000 to graduates and ` 1,500 to diploma holders for two years   on the first day of forming the government.

“BJP promised ` 15 lakh and 2 crore jobs every year. Did you get either? We should not give false promises. Congress makes promises, it fulfils them. We will fulfil these four promises on the first day of assuming office. These promises would benefit the vast majority of poor and weaker sections, and not billionaires like Gautam Adani,” he said.

‘Disqualified from Lok Sabha for questioning relationship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Gautam Adani’

Referring to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi said, “I was sent out of Lok Sabha as I questioned BJP’s corruption, and the relationship between Mr. Modi and Mr. Adani. “I asked two simple questions what is Mr. Modi’s relationship with industrialist Mr. Adani, as the former was giving ports, airports and everything to the latter, and whose money is the ` 20,000 crores invested in Adani shell companies? First, they switched off the mic and then sent me out of Lok Sabha through disqualification. I am not afraid of them. I am not going to stop here. I will continue to fight their corruption,” he said.

PM and BJP leaders speak about Basavanna, but don’t follow his teachings: Shri Rahul Gandhi

VIJAYAPURA: On April 23, 2023, the birth anniversary of 12th century social reformer Basavanna, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ruling BJP leaders only spoke about the Lingayat philosopher in their speeches but didn’t follow his teachings.

“Basavanna had said don’t fear, speak out truth. If we see today, there is BJP and RSS’ ideology which is creating an atmosphere of hatred and violence in the country. Prime Minister and BJP leaders speak about Basavanna, but don’t follow his teachings,” Shri Gandhi said. Addressing a public meeting here, he said Basavanna had spoken about helping the weaker sections of society, he did not say “Help the billionaires”. “I have read about Basavanna’s teachings. He has nowhere written that ‘get the country’s wealth to Adani’. AICC General Secretary Shri KC Venugopal, Karnataka Congress campaign committee Chairman Shri MB Patil and KPCC Working President Shri Satish Jarkiholi, were among those present. Shri Gandhi was speaking after holding a massive road show from Shivaji Circle to Kanakadasa Circle, amid the sound of drum beats, in which large crowds of people took part. He, earlier today began his two-day visit to poll-bound Karnataka from KudalaSangama, where he offered obeisance to Basaveshwara, also known as Basavanna, on his birth anniversary, celebrated as Basava Jayanti. Basavanna is the founder of the Lingayat sect.

This visit of Shri Rahul Gandhi is seen as an attempt by the Congress to bolster Lingayat outreach ahead of the May 10 assembly polls. Lingayats are a dominant community constituting about 17 per cent of the State’s population, largely seen as the ruling BJP’s vote bank.

Massive crowds joined Shri Rahul Gandhi on his road show in Karnataka’s Vijayapura

Vijayapura: Shri Rahul Gandhi on April, 23, 2023, held a massive road show here, ahead of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, waving at a large, enthusiastic crowd that had lined up on both sides of the route.

Standing on top of a vehicle, Shri Rahul Gandhi constantly waved at the people gathered in the streets and on nearby buildings, many of whom were seen chanting ‘Rahul, Rahul’ slogans and shouting loud cheers.

He began the road show after garlanding the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. People holding Congress flags moved along as the vehicle carrying Shri Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders passed through the streets from Shivaji Circle and Kanakadasa Circle, amid the sound of drum beats.

Senior leaders from the Karnataka Congress and workers accompanied Shri Rahul Gandhi on the road show.

‘50 per cent quota cap will go, free bus ride for Karnataka women’

Udupi/Mangaluru: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on April 27, 2023, said that the 50% cap on the reservation will be removed if UPA comes to power at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He announced free public transport for women if his Party is voted to power in Karnataka. He made these announcements at the Party rallies in Udupi and Mangaluru. Interacting with fishermen at Uchila in Udupi, he said the 50% cap on reservations is not backed by any scientific data. He said of the 70 most powerful bureaucrats, who decide what the union government should do, only 7% belong to OBC, Dalit, tribal and minority communities.

He criticised PM Modi for not making caste census data public. “When UPA was in power, we did the caste census and the data is available with the Centre. But it is not releasing it. Data on caste is essential to solving the problems of people. The cap of 50% reservation has to be removed as it was not fixed on the basis of any scientific studies. But the PM does not agree to do that,” he said. Rahul Ji promised that the Congress will provide Rs. 10 lakh insurance to fishermen, Rs. 1 lakh interest-free loan to fisherwomen and Rs. 25 diesel subsidy for 500 litres per day, if voted to power in Karnataka.

‘Women to get free public transport’

Addressing a rally in Mangaluru, Rahul Ji announced free public transport for women if Congress is voted to power in Karnataka. This is the fifth poll promise of the Party. Former Congress President said that women will travel for free in state-owned buses from the very first day of Congress government formation.

“Not just four promises, but we are adding one more. Congress will fulfil five guarantee schemes on the first day of our government. BJP stole 40% of the commission from women and we will return it to them. Women need not pay while travelling in government buses,” Rahul Ji said to thunderous applause.

Former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily Ji said that the people have to support the Congress Party in order to defeat the BJP which has disrupted communal harmony.

KPCC President DK Shivakumar said that the Congress will fulfil all assurances given to voters. District Congress President Harish Kumar, MLA UT Khader, MLCs BK Hariprasad, Manjunath Bhandari, former minister Abhayachandra Jain, AICC Spokespersons KC Venugopal, Charan Singh Sapra, Congress candidate JR Lobo and many Party leaders were present.

Shri Rahul Gandhi promises Rs. 1 crore to each village panchayat, Rs. 5,000 crores for Kalyana Karnataka region

Javargi: Heavy rains, coupled with gusty winds, disrupted former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi’s poll campaign at Jevargi in Kalaburagi district on April 28, 2023. Thousands of people had turned up from villages in Jevargi and surrounding constituencies for the public meeting. The rain and wind either blew away or brought down the roof of the pandal, and the venue was reduced to a mud pit. Some people left the venue. Yet, thousands of people waited in the rain for two hours to listen to Shri Rahul Gandhi. The aircraft carrying Shri Rahul Gandhi took off from Mangaluru airport and landed in Kalaburagi airport as per schedule. At Kalaburagi, he boarded a helicopter, but could not land in Jevargi because of the bad weather. He flew back to Kalaburagi from where he took a car to reach the venue of the public meeting in Jevargi. When Shri Rahul Gandhi walked in the rain and emerged on the stage, the crowd welcomed him with loud cheers and whistles. Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi promised allocation of Rs. 1 crore for each village panchayat, and Rs. 5,000 crores for the Kalyana Karnataka region if his Party is voted to power in the May 10 state assembly polls.

Amid rains, the former Congress Chief addressed an election rally, where he also promised to fill 50,000 government job vacancies. The Kalyana Karnataka region comprises the districts of Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Kalaburagi, Ballari and Vijayanagara. Ajay Singh, the Congress candidate for Jevargi, interpreted the showers as a sign of a good monsoon and better prospects for the farming community in Karnataka. He interpreted the ferocity of the rain and wind as a sign that the BJP government in Karnataka would be blown away.

Congress candidates Sharan Prakash Patil (Sedam), B.R. Patil (Aland), Allamprabhu Patil (Gulbarga South), Khaneez Fatima (Gulbarga North), M.Y. Patil (Afzalpur), Revu Naik Belamagi (Gulbarga Rural) and Subhash Rathod (Chincholi) were among those who attended the election rally.

Why is PM silent on 40 per cent graft, asks Shri Rahul; hits out at BJP

Tumakuru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not talking about corruption in Karnataka, despite the BJP government facing charges of 40 per cent commission, said former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi in election rally on May 1, 2023.

Addressing a mammoth rally at Turuvekere in Tumakuru district, he said that Modi is targeting only Congress, though his own government in the state witnessed a series of scandals in the last four-and-a-half years.

The entire state is aware of the 40 per cent commission charge against the BJP government, but Modi does not speak about it. The Prime Minister also ignored the letter written by the Contractors’ Association in the state on the 40 per cent commission. If they are elected again, it will be a 60 per cent government, he warned.

Modi lauds the state government, despite being aware of the Mysuru Sandal Soap and PSI, assistant engineers and assistant professors’ recruitment scandals. “It is not that the Prime Minister is not aware of this corruption and 40 per cent commission. He is aware of everything…so my question to PM is despite knowing about this loot for the last three years, did you take any action? You did not. Why? You should answer this to the people of Karnataka,” he said.

Shri Rahul Gandhi also took the Prime Minister to task for allegedly failing to protect the interest of farmers, labourers, women and youth. He also urged the Prime Minister to answer what he did to get Karnataka its right share of tax money, how he helped the state during floods, and how he tried to resolve the inter-state water dispute between the three states of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.

Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress will come to power and execute the guarantee schemes and other programmes by ensuring a non-corrupt government.

“A ‘Krishi Nidhi Scheme’ will be launched and minimum support price for coconut and areca nut will be announced,” he added. “The BJP government captured power in 2018 without getting an absolute majority and by poaching MLAs from other parties,” he said.

‘I Know Terrorism Better than PM, Lost My Grandmother & Father’: Shri Rahul Gandhi at Ballari Rally

Ballari: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on May 6, 2023, slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter’s remark in which he accused the Party of shielding “terrorists for vote bank” politics at an election rally in Karnataka.

“I have lost my grandmother and father to terrorism, so I know more about its effects than PM Modi,” Shri Rahul Gandhi said, referring to the assassination of former Prime Ministers - Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

While former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi declared to fulfil the five ‘guarantees’ in the first cabinet after coming to power, he also assured to fill the 2.5 lakh government vacancies.

“We will fill it for the youth of Karnataka. Also, our effort is to provide 10 lakh jobs for the youth in five years. Farmers are the backbone of Karnataka and we will provide Rs. 1.5 lakh crores to them in five years. The milk subsidy will be hiked from Rs. 5 to Rs. 7. These are just the beginning,” he said.

Shri Rahul Gandhi also asked the people of Karnataka to vote the Congress to power with at least 150 seats.

PM Modi should specify which engine got how much from 40 pc commission in ‘double-engine govt’: Shri Rahul Gandhi

Anekal: Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on corruption in Karnataka, Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on May 7, 2023, sought to know how much each engine of the “double-engine government” got from the “40 per cent commission” in the state.

The former MP said that three years ago, the government that came to power in Karnataka was a “Stolen one”. “Your government was stolen three years ago. You chose someone and you got someone else as the MLAs were bought. The government that came by theft, will do theft. It does not know anything other than theft,” the Congress leader said.

He was referring to the fall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019 within 14 months of its formation after 16 MLAs were disqualified for switching sides. This way, the BJP which was the single-largest party came to power in 2019. Most of those who resigned fought the 2019 by-polls on BJP ticket and became ministers.

Wondering why Prime Minister Modi never spells out the name of other BJP leaders and never takes them in the vehicle during roadshows, Shri Gandhi opined there could be two possibilities. “Probably, he does not want anyone else to be visible other than him. The other possibility is that Narendra Modi knows that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and his predecessor B S Yediyurappa are absolutely corrupt and he wants to hide them from you,” Shri Gandhi alleged.

Speaking about the burning situation in Manipur where over 50 people have died due to ethnic violence, he said that people are being killed but the Prime Minister or Union Home Minister Amit Shah have no concern for it.

“Manipur violence is the outcome of hatred. Our ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ was against this hatred,” the Congress leader asserted.

Shri Rahul Gandhi meets gig workers in Bengaluru, takes a scooter ride with delivery agent

Bengaluru: Shri Rahul Gandhi interacted with gig workers (online workers or temporary workers) in Bengaluru on May 7, 2023, discussing the workers’ issues and even taking a 2-km ride with a delivery partner on his vehicle.

Shri Rahul Gandhi who sat down for Dosas in Bengaluru’s Airlines Hotel, discussed the workers’ lives, asking them about their difficulties with rising prices and lack of stable employment. Shri Rahul Gandhi later hopped onto the pillion seat, chatting with a delivery partner about the consequences of BJP’s corruption-ridden ‘40% Commission Sarkara,’ and the Congress Party’s five Guarantees.

In its manifesto, the Congress Party has promised to set up a gig workers’ welfare board and to ensure minimum hourly wage for workers in the unorganised sector. Meanwhile, campaigning intensified during the last leg of campaigning for the Karnataka assembly elections.

Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 and the votes will be counted on May 13.