Karnataka Assembly Election 2023: Kick-starting the second part of Vijay Sankalp Yatra, initiated by BJP to raise the flag in Karnataka, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of raising questions over the valour of armed forces. Slamming Rahul Gandhi, Singh on Thursday said that 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' was aimed at "launching" their leader Rahul Gandhi, and he thought that the latter may go to Karachi or Lahore as part of the march.
During his interaction with the people of the state, he appealed to them to support the saffron party in the Assembly election, due by May, to form a government with a two-thirds majority.
Vijay Sankalp Yatra
The yatra from four different directions across the poll-bound State, in specially designed vehicles or "Rathas", is being launched by the party's central leaders in parts. The first part was launched by BJP National President J P Nadda in Chamarajanagara district on Wednesday.
"Do you know about the young Congress leader, he is being launched now, and for that, they had the Bharat Jodo Yatra. India got divided during partition in 1947, so I thought Rahul Gandhi who was on Bharat Jodo Yatra may go to Karachi or Lahore, but he did not go there," Singh said.
Rajnath Singh slammed' Rahul Gandhi
Addressing a public meeting here, he asked to who did Gandhi try to jodo (unite), when the whole of India is united and together. "One cannot do politics for long by fooling people, only those who do politics with confidence and maintaining eye contact with the people can be successful, and only those in the BJP can do it," he said, as he hit out at the Congress accusing them of using slogans, 'Modi teri kabr khudegi' (Modi your grave will be dug).
"They are not digging Modi's grave, but are digging their own with such slogans. The amount of mud-slinging that our Congress friends engage in against BJP and PM Modi, our Lotus will boom that much," Singh said. Charging Congress with raising questions on the courage and valour of our defence forces, he asked, "what happened to them? As the Defence Minister I want to say, we are proud of our Military forces, the kind of brave deeds they have done, if I say it openly, you will be even more proud."
Singh visited Sangolli Rayanna's memorial
Earlier in the day, Singh visited Sangolli Rayanna's memorial here and paid respects, following which he launched the Yatra. Sangolli Rayanna (1798-1831) was the army chief of the erstwhile Kittur Kingdom ruled by Rani Chennamma and fought against the British who hanged him to death from a Banyan tree near Nandagad in Belagavi district in 1831.
(with inputs from PTI)
ALSO READ | Karnataka: JP Nadda flags off Vijaya Sankalp Yatra, announces BJP's plan of action for polls
ALSO READ | Karnataka: Blow to AAP ahead of assembly election, ex-Bengaluru top cop Bhaskar Rao joins BJP
