Strongly objecting to Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if the principal Opposition parties come to power in the State, the Congress on Wednesday called it a “brazenly intimidatory statement” and said it would raise it with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Addressing an election rally in Karnataka’s Belagavi district on Tuesday, Mr. Shah said the development of the State would be on the “reverse gear” if the Congress forms the government. “If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots,” Mr. Shah had said.
Responding to the Home Minister at a public rally in Karnataka’s Chikkodi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Mr. Shah’s comment was an insult to the State and its people, the Kannadigas.
“Never, ever has Karnataka seen such things before! It is a disrespect to Kannadigas. Does it mean we are rioters? How can he say like this, being the Union Home Minister? We will question this and register a complaint with the Election Commission and with the court,” Mr. Kharge said.
“Maybe they will instigate conflicts here if we assume power, to prove their statement,” the Congress chief added.
”This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by India’s very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat,” Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
In a separate tweet, Mr. Ramesh said that it was clear the BJP was losing Karnataka decisively as the response of the people to the campaigns of the Congress leadership has been overwhelming. “This explains Amit Shah’s 4-I strategy: Insult, Inflame, Incite and Intimidate. Shame on Shah! We are raising it with the ECI,” Mr. Ramesh said on Twitter.
