Udupi (Karnataka), May 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held the Congress government in Karnataka responsible for "political violence that led to the death of several BJP cadres" in the state.
"It is extremely shameful that the Congress government allowed violence in the state and several BJP workers were murdered. The Congress must provide an answer to the rising crime," Modi told a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally at M.G.M. College Grounds in this coastal district city.
Through his 40-minute speech in Hindi, the Prime Minister addressed hundreds of people, including party cadres, gathered on a sunny afternoon.
This was Modi's second rally after the one in Chamarajanagar district earlier in the day, kick-starting BJP's poll campaign for the May 12 Assembly elections.
The opposition BJP has been holding the Congress responsible for the murders of party workers in the state's coastal region in the last five years.
"While on the one hand, the BJP is talking about the 'ease of doing business' in our country, the Congress believes in 'ease of doing murder'. This is the kind of culture they have developed," Modi said.
Accusing the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of allowing the "sand mafia" to operate in the state, Modi appealed to the people to vote for change and development.
"Those who loot cannot remain in power and must be ousted," Modi said, adding that the Congress had promoted intolerance and violence.
"When the state's Lokayukta is not safe, how can the common man be?"
Karnataka's anti-graft ombudsman Justice P. Vishwanatha Shetty was stabbed at his office by a man in the state capital on March 7. Shetty returned to work a few days ago.
Hailing the Udupi district's residents for starting for several national banks, Modi said that his government had been working towards making these banks accessible to the poorest of the poor.
Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Corporation Bank, and Vijaya Bank are some of the oldest banks in the country that were set up in what are now the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.
Over 31 crore bank accounts for the poor have been opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Modi said.
Modi will address another party rally at Chikodi in Belagavi district.
The BJP is contesting all 224 Assembly seats to return to power.
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