Karnataka polls: Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi over Dalit protests, questions his silence

Shivamogga/Davangere: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over price rise among other things. Addressing a rally in Davangere ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections 2018, he said, "PM Modi does not believe in listening to people. It's always his own 'Mann ki Baat'. When will you listen to the 'Mann ki Baat' of common people Modi ji?"

"When petrol is becoming cheaper for the entire world, it’s becoming more expensive for Indians. Where is the surplus money going? It is being pocketed by PM Modi’s industrialist friends?" he added.

Exuding confidence of doing well in the upcoming Assembly elections, Rahul said, "The Congress will return to power in Karnataka. It will not be a government that only works for industrialists. It will be a government that works for the farmers, for the poor and for weaker sections of society. Together, we will build a 'nava Karnataka."

People shower their love & blessings upon Congress President @RahulGandhi on his way to Honnali, Davanagere. #JanaAashirwadaYatre #INC4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/v1VPHmgGLK — Congress (@INCIndia) April 3, 2018

Earlier on Tuesday, in Shivamogga also, Rahul had hit out at PM Modi for "not uttering a word" on the alleged 'atrocities' on Dalits and tribals and on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

His remarks at a public meeting on the fifth leg of his tour of Karnataka came against the backdrop of violence in northern parts of the country during Monday's protests against SC order over SC/ST Act. The protests during Bharat Bandh against the apex court's verdict on the issue had led to massive law and order issues and violence.

"PM Modi has written a book about how students can counter stress during exams. But after all the hard work the students put in, the Modi govt announced that the paper was leaked": @RahulGandhi#CBSEPaperLeak pic.twitter.com/iJMdtlhnMp — Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 3, 2018

"Rohit Vemula is murdered. Dalits are beaten up in Una (Gujarat) but the PM does not speak a word on it. Atrocities on Dalits and tribals are increasing and the SC/ST act has been diluted. PM Modi prefers not to speak a word," Rahul had said, PTI reported.

At the same time, he had compared the status of SC/ST welfare in Karnataka with the Modi government's actions on the issue. Rahul had claimed that more than half of the money released by the Modi government across the country for SC/ST welfare was being spent by Karnataka itself on the Dalits and tribals.

He had also attacked PM Modi on the CBSE question papers leak and on the "leak" of Assembly election date for Karnataka, saying the Prime Minister was silent on these issues too. Plus, Rahul took a jibe at the PM for the India-China stand-off at Doklam despite "swinging" with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He further took potshots at BJP state unit chief BS Yeddyurappa, who has been projected as the party's CM. Shivamogga is the home district of Yeddyurappa.

"If he looks at the stage properly, on one side (of PM Modi) there is Yeddyurappa who spent time in jail (in a graft case), on the other side, there are four ministers who had been to jail. Modi ji you speak about corruption when there are corrupt sitting next to you on the stage," Rahul had said.

(With PTI inputs)