Siddu fumes over Modi's 'divide & rule' policy

Maqsood Maniyar | NT Bureau

Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accused of playing up the northsouth divide in his election speech in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP), on Thursday.

Modi alleged the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), especially the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) abused people of UP when they sought votes from south India.

The PM had been campaigning for BJP’s Jaunpur candidate Kripashankar Singh and Machhlishahr ticket holder BP Saroj. The comments come in the backdrop of the conclusion of the elections to 131 Lok Sabha seats in the five southern states on Monday.

Some Opposition leaders pointed out the claim that the PM made was not factual. Modi has also drawn flak for stoking antiMuslim sentiments frequently in his election speeches “The games that SP and Congress play are dangerous.

The policies of ‘shehzada’ (Congress MP Rahul Gandhi) are dangerous. They ask you for your votes here but in south India, they insult and abuse the people of Uttar Pradesh and use rubbish language against you,” Modi said.

He also made a reference to Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Udayanidhi, the son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, likening ‘Sanatana Dharma’ to malaria, dengue and corona, which warranted eradication, in a speech back in September.

“These people abuse Sanatana Dharma. Be it their friends in DMK and the Left in Kerala or Congress in Telangana and Karnataka, these parties abuse people of UP and in response the people of SP and Congress stuff cotton in their ears. Will you forgive INDI Alliance for abusing the people of UP? Will we forgive those who abuse people of Uttar Pradesh?” the PM asked.

Jaunpur to witness interesting contest

The BJP replaced its sitting Jaunpur MP Shyam Singh Yadav and named Kripashankar Singh as their candidate. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati promptly convinced Yadav to contest on her party’s ticket instead.

However, BSP had to replace their earlier candidate Shrikala, the wife of former Jaunpur MP Dhananjay Singh, who then asked his supporters to back the BJP. SP on the other hand fielded former BSP leader Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was favoured to win Jaunpur.

However, Yadav contesting on a BSP ticket is likely to make things more difficult for SP.

Siddu brands PM ungrateful

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah noted that Modi had latched on to the north-south divide after polling had concluded in southern states, calling the PM ungrateful in the process.

Just because the elections in Southern States are over, an ungrateful PM is now trying to divide South and North Indians by targeting people from Southern States. We consider Karnataka as the daughter of India. India has never discriminated anyone, but people like Modi spew venom.

—Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah