After praising Deve Gowda, Modi says 'don't waste your vote on JD (S)'

In an acerbic attack on the Congress, PM Modi said that Siddaramaiah-led government had ruined Bengaluru and Karnataka in its 5-year rule.

Two days after Narendra Modi praised HD Deve Gowda, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on the JD (S) in Bengaluru and urged people not to waste their vote on the party led by the veteran leader. Modi's attack on Rahul Gandhi for insulting Deve Gowda had given rise to a speculation that BJP may ally with the JD (S) to form the government in Karnataka in case of a hung assembly.

"It is clear the JD (S) would struggle to end up at even the third place after elections. They will certainly not form the government. Tell me (Modi asked people), should you be voting for such a party. JD (S) has done a great disservice to Karnataka. They brought those parties into Karnakata which are anti-development," Modi said at a rally in Kengeri, Bengaluru. Modi took a dig a JD (S) for allying with the BSP.

In an acerbic attack on the Congress, PM Modi said that Siddaramaiah-led government had ruined Bengaluru and Karnataka in its 5-year rule. Modi said he will give five examples of how the Congress rule tarnished Bengaluru's image across the world.

"Youths of Bengaluru worked hard to make the city a 'silicon valley'. This government has turned Silicon Valley into the valley of sin..Bengaluru used to known as 'garden city', but this government has made it 'garbage city'," Modi said.

Modi said the Congress government had failed to protect women in the state and recalled the 'mass molestation' incident in Bengaluru which took place on a New Year's eve couple of years back.

"Bengaluru was cosmopolitan city, Congress government has destroyed its culture..Youths made Bengaluru a startup hub but this government made Bengalruru a pothole hub," Modi added.

The Prime Minister said youth of Karnataka are talented and smart. He slammed the Congress of failing to harness the talent of the youth in the state, adding "Unless you dethrone the Congress your dreams will not come true."

"When Karnataka should have been on top in ease of doing business, under this Congress regime it is topping ease of doing murders," he said.

He said the Siddaramaiah government had failed to utilise centre's assistance to make the nation 'open defecation free'.

"Our government striving to eradicate Open Defecation. In Karnataka only 110 Towns and municipalities have become successful," he added.

In a veiled reference Mohammed Haris Nalapad's assault case, Modi said, "Congress leaders and their children are drunk with power... they think they can assault anyone."

Modi also expressed concern over the condition of lakes in Bengaluru and specifically mentioned the incident fire in Bellandur lake due to pollution.

In his earlier rallies today (May 3), Modi played the nationalist card and spoke about the surgical strikes, the heroes of the Indian Army and even questioned Rahul Gandhi for disrespecting Vande Mataram, the national song.