New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched BJP’s poll campaign in Karnataka, PM took several digs at Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “Naamdaar” and challenging him to speak for 15 minutes without any paper, and in any language. Although he did not directly refer to him by name, the implication was obvious. Addressing the first of his many rallies in poll-bound Karnataka, Modi also tore into the Congress party on several fronts.
Right from the outset the PM made several jibes at Rahul. “The Congress president is a Naamdaar, so how does he know about the efforts of Kaamdaars,” Modi said, bringing up the reference several times in his speech. In a sarcastic comment, he went on to add, “We are Kaamdaars. What is our level that we can sit with people like the Congress president, who look down on us?”
Then when referring to the BJP’s efforts at ensuring electricity reached all the villages in the country, Rahul was the target yet again. “Perhaps due to over excitement, the newly elected Congress president forgets decency,” he said. “He did not even bother to congratulate the hardworking ‘mazdoors’ due to whom India’s villages are getting electricity,” he went on to add.
Clearly in no mood to spare the Congress president, he next brought up Rahul by challenging him to a debate. Rahul had earlier said he wanted to speak in Parliament for 15 minutes on several issues, and he was quite certain Modi would not be able to remain seated for long.
“He (Rahul Gandhi) had challenged me that if he speaks for 15 minutes then I will not be able to stand in front of him. Yes, you are right, you are a ‘naamdar’, what right do we ‘kaamdaars’ have to even sit in front of you,” was Modi’s mocking reaction.
Daring Rahul to a debate, the PM added, “For 15 minutes, without taking a paper in your hand, can you please talk about the achievements of your government in Karnataka. You can speak in any language as you please- English, Hindi or Italian.”