Rahul Gandhi pauses speech upon hearing 'azaan' in Karnataka

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paused his speech at an election rally when he heard the sound of 'Azaan' (Islamic call to prayer).

The incident occurred in Tumakuru on Monday. The visuals of the incident have been shared by news agency ANI and the clip has gone viral.

In his address, Gandhi attacked the BJP and accused the ruling party of doing only "corruption." "For the last 3 years, BJP has only done corruption here. People of Karnataka called BJP govt a 40% govt, which means they steal 40% commission from public. PM was also aware of this, but I would like to ask him why he didn't take any action on it," he said.

He then asked whether the government took measures to curb the corruption. "What did you do to stop corruption and "40 % commission" in Karnataka in last 3 years?" he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "You (PM) speak about Congress abusing you for 91 times, but didn''t speak anything about what you did for Karnataka," he stated.

Gandhi mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him why he is not speaking about BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in his speeches.

"You (PM) don't even take names of CM Bommai and B S Yediyurappa in your speeches, your speeches are about yourself," he said.

His comments come on a day when the Congress launched an online campaign on Twitter with the hashtag - #PayCMCryPM. The grand old party is targeting the Karnataka CM on corruption while cornering the PM on his recent claims on Congress abused him "91 times."

Addressing a public rally at Humnabad in Bidar district on Saturday, the PM said that the Congress has hurled abuses at him 91 times as he has cut its "sources" of corruption.

"Someone has made a list of such abuses against me and it has been sent to me. Till now, Congress people have abused me 91 times with different types. Had Congress people put efforts in good governance and boosting the morale of its workers, instead of wasting time on this dictionary of abuses, it would not have been in such a pathetic plight," he said.

Congress National Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to learn from her brother Rahul Gandhi, saying the former party president was willing to give his life for the country.

With inputs from agencies