In Karnataka, Modi plays the nationalist card

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi played the nationalist card during his election rally in poll bound Karnataka. He spoke about the surgical strikes, the heroes of the Indian Army and even questioned Rahul Gandhi for disrespecting Vande Mataram, the national song.

The Congress neglected, Field Marshal K M Cariappa, they insulted General K S Thimaya which forced him to resign, Modi said. The PM sought to invoke patriotic sentiments and questioned the stand by the Congress after the Indian Army had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan.

They asked us for proof about the genuineness of the surgical strikes. There were bodies of Pakistani soldiers that were carried in trucks according to a newspaper report, but they asked for proof, Modi further said while questioning the Congress's patriotism.

Further, Modi went on to remind the voter in Karnataka on how a senior Congress leader had called the Army Chief a goonda. This was said in the aftermath of the surgical strikes, Modi also said.

Modi also invoked Sardar Patel and said that the moment his name is raked up, the. Congress loses sleep. He said that Patel was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad to accede to the country.

Modi also spoke about the issue of Dalits. He questioned why the Congress was silent on the atrocity committed on a Dalit girl in Bidar. The state Congress did not speak about it and neither was there any candle light vigil, he also added.