Yeddyurappa challenges Siddaramaiah for debate on Modi rule

Bengaluru, May 18: BJP National Vice President and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today challenged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for a debate on achievements of Narendra Modi-led government in comparison with ten years of UPA rule.

"A couple of days back at Sadhana Samavesha in Davangere, Chief Minister was supposed to have listed out achievements of his government, but as he was aware that achievements of his government was zero, he criticised BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Yeddyurappa said.

At an interaction jointly organised by Press Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Reporters Guild here, he said, "...I request the Chief Minister...let us both debate on 10 year rule of UPA government and one year of Modi rule."

"Let us honestly try and inform people about the reality. I urge the Chief Minister for this," he added. Congress had organised state-level convention called 'Saadhana Samavesha' at Davangere on May 16 to celebrate the completion of two years of Siddaramaiah government.

Yeddyurappa accused Siddaramaiah of "arrogance", stating that no Chief Minister in the past had behaved "in such a way by talking lightly about others."

He said that the chief minister, instead of utilising the opportunity by giving good governance, was indulging in "useless and false" criticism about others. Listing out achievements of the Union government, Yeddyurappa said "We have tried to cleanse the stains of Congress' ten years misrule to an extent."

Reminding that Modi has attained the stature of a world leader, he said "Modi does not want any certificate from Mallikarjuna Kharge (Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha) or Siddaramaiah."

Criticising the chief minister for not accepting Centre's invite to be in Beijing during the Prime Minister's three-day visit to China, Yeddyurappa alleged that "This shows that politics is more important to our Chief Minister than the interest of the state."

Siddaramaih had expressed his inability to visit China citing Gram Panchayat polls and late invitations as the reason. Chief Ministers from Gujarat and Maharashtra were in Beijing during Modi's visit. He also defended the Land Acquisition Bill and alleged that the Opposition was spreading false information about it.

PTI