a day after prime minister Narendra Modi Criticizing Sonia Gandhi for her ‘sovereignty’ remarks regarding Karnataka at an election rally, the BJP filed a complaint against the former Congress chief with the Election Commission of India. In its complaint, the BJP alleged that the “shocking statement” was “divisive in nature” and could lead to division on the basis of language as well as state.
In his first rally in Hubballi on Saturday ahead of the May 10 assembly elections, Gandhi had said that his party would not allow anyone to pose a threat to the “prestige, sovereignty or integrity” of the state. The saffron camp asked the poll body to issue directions for lodging of FIRs for using the word ‘sovereignty’.
Responding to this, the Prime Minister at a rally in Mysuru said that the Congress was openly advocating the state’s secession from India and that the disease of the “tukde-tukde gang” (anti-national elements) had reached its peak. Has been. Congress”.
In its complaint to the Election Commission, the BJP said that “sovereign” by definition means an independent nation. “When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. India is a sovereign country and the state of Karnataka is (in) a proud part of it. Till date (date), no one raised any question about the integrity of Kannadigas with the sovereignty of the country,” the complaint said, according to the news agency PTI,
It added: “What the Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India. This statement is divisive in nature; Its aim is to divide citizens and create a rift between two people of different states. Karnataka is no different from India. This is a shocking statement to incite divisive sentiments and create disharmony in the society.
While Congress sources denied that Gandhi had said this in his speech, the party’s official Twitter handle quoted him as saying so and is yet to remove the tweet or issue an official clarification.
The Congress had tweeted: “CPP President Smt. Sonia Gandhi gave a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: ‘Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s prestige, sovereignty or integrity’.
CPP President Smt. Sonia Gandhi sent a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: “The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to the prestige, sovereignty or integrity of Karnataka.” pic.twitter.com/W6HjKYWjLa
– Congress (@INCIndia) May 6, 2023
Describing the statement as “shocking and unacceptable”, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the complaint, said Gandhi had violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and asked the Election Commission to take strict action against her for making “such a statement”. requested. Karandlaje, convenor of the BJP election management committee, also requested the Election Commission to take exemplary punitive action.
“It is an insult to the freedom fighters of Karnataka, who fought for India’s independence. This is an insult to crores of patriotic Kannadigas, who swear by India and cherish their Indianness.
Meanwhile, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur accused the Congress of a “deep-rooted conspiracy to disintegrate India”, prompting more backlash from the BJP on social media. He tweeted: “By citing ‘Karnataka’s sovereignty’, Sonia Gandhi ji, you have exposed Congress’s deep-rooted conspiracy to dismember India. People have not forgotten how the Congress government mischievously carved out Karnataka against public sentiment. Introduced a different flag to mock our allegiance to one nation, one flag.Neither Sonia Gandhi ji nor her party.Ever accepted India as one nation.Kannadiga Congress game plan foiled Will do it. #DeshVirodhiCongress”
Sonia Gandhi ji, by citing ‘Sovereignty of Karnataka’, you have exposed the deep conspiracy of Congress to break India into pieces. People have not forgotten how the Congress government mischievously introduced a separate flag for Karnataka, going against public sentiment.
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) May 8, 2023
On Sunday, BJP’s national IT cell chief Amit Malviya also reacted to Gandhi’s comments. He said: “Sonia Gandhi talked about the ‘sovereignty’ of Karnataka… A sovereign by definition is an independent nation. Does the Congress consider Karnataka independent of India? It is Karnataka fighting for India’s independence.” It is an insult to the freedom fighters of India. It is an insult to lakhs of patriotic Kannadigas, who swear by India and cherish their Indianness. The top Congress leadership is obsessed with ‘tukde tukde gang’ mentality. Shame on them. Karnataka they Will punish. #NannaVoteModige”
Sonia Gandhi talks about the ‘sovereignty’ of Karnataka… A sovereign by definition is an independent nation.
Does Congress consider Karnataka independent from India?
This is an insult to the freedom fighters of Karnataka who fought for India’s independence. It’s an insult… pic.twitter.com/ydPtAyI9mr
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 7, 2023
Gandhi had launched a scathing attack on the BJP during the Hubballi rally, saying there could be no progress in Karnataka as well as the rest of the country without getting rid of the “plunder, lies, arrogance and hatred” of the ruling party. ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ led by his son Rahul Gandhi A few months ago it was against those who spread hatred. “That was the reason lakhs of people joined Rahul Gandhi’s 4,000 kilometer march”.
Gandhi said, “Neither Karnataka nor India can progress without getting rid of the atmosphere of loot, lies, arrogance and hatred of the BJP.”
(With PTI inputs)
read all latest politics news And karnataka election 2023 update here