BENGALURU: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday lashed out at Congress newly-elected president Rahul Gandhi for accusing BJP of spreading hatred and communalism in the country and said, if someone formed a government by setting the fire, it is Congress.
Addressing a 'Parivarthan Rally' here, Rajnath extended his wishes to Rahul for taking over the topmost post in the party and said, "I want to congratulate him (Rahul Gandhi) but also ask- did the fire of communalism, terrorism and Naxalism in India erupt due to BJP`s policies? Did fire erupt in Kashmir due to BJP`s policies? If someone formed governments by setting the fire, it is Congress. BJP is trying to douse the flame."
Accusing the Congress Party and its leadership in the state of indulging in corruption, Rajnath alleged that the grand old party is indulging in 'divide and rule' in the state and causing communal disharmony by involving caste and other related factors. He further claimed that scams such as that related to the construction of a steel flyover are being ignited by the Congress.
"Congress government here wants to divide Karnataka community to rule. I received information that even though there is no regulation in the constitution, Muslim community here was befooled with the reservation which was later out ruled by the Court," he said.
With the assembly elections in Karnataka on the agenda for 2018, the Union Home Minister appealed to the natives to support the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under the leadership of BS Yeddyurappa.
"We want to empower Karnataka, and this will be possible when, in two to three months, a BJP government will be formed here. The BJP will contest in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka under BS Yeddyurappa Ji's leadership," Rajnath said while hailing praises on the former Chief Minister of the state.
Rajnath added, "The government here created such an issue over Tipu Sultan. I do not want to dive deep into history, but I have to ask: Why is there no celebration for Kempegowda, Kittur Rani Chennamma or Sir M. Visvesvaraya? Why only Tipu Sultan?"Congratulating the newly-elected president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath further accused the Congress of igniting disorder and turmoil in several states, including Kashmir.
Rajnath further attacked the present state government over the lack of action being taken following murders of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh and 19-year-old Paresh Mesta.
"Paresh Mesta was recently killed. Gauri Lankesh was killed. What is this government doing in these murder cases? I want to assure Karnataka public that when our government is formed, we will probe her death from all angles, and culprits will be punished. We won't save anyone," he said.
Rajnath was accompanied by Yeddyurappa and other party leaders.
Meanwhile, Karnataka is all set to go to assembly elections in April next year.
