Karnataka’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’: Rahul On Revealing Party Manifesto

Karnataka Elections 2018: Congress President Rahul Gandhi returned to the state for the seventh leg of his poll campaign (#JanaAashirwadaYatre) as campaigning for the May 12 Karnataka assembly elections gains momentum.

On a two-day visit, Gandhi campaigned in Uttar Kannada district on April 26, visiting, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar along with top leadership of the party. Addressing a packed crowd in the evening, he hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on graft issue, accusing him of supporting mining baron Reddy brothers.

“Modi’s aim is to give Karnataka’s wealth to Reddy brothers. Congress will never allow it to happen. Listen it is impossible,” he said. Further, he targeted the Prime Minister and accused him of lying and spreading hatred. Gandhi on Friday released the ‘Nava Karnataka’ Manifesto in Mangaluru in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr G Parameshwara, MP Dr M Veerappa Moily and other senior leaders.

Addressing the gathering on release of the manifesto, Gandhi said unlike the BJP, three or four people in a closed room did not make the Congress party’s manifesto. He hailed the manifesto as ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the Karnataka people and said the manifesto carries the voice of the people of Karnataka. This is made by visiting on every single district and meeting every single community, he said.

Continuing his diatribe against the BJP, Rahul said, “This is unlike the manifesto of the BJP which will have the hidden interests of the RSS and Reddy brothers”.

“Our opponents do not respect the culture of Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not stand up to what he says,” the AICC president added.

He reiterated that Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has delivered as promised.

After releasing the manifesto, the party president tweeted “We released the Congress manifesto for Karnataka earlier today. It captures the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the people of Karnataka and makes very specific commitments that we intend to deliver on, including creating 1 crore new jobs over the next 5 yrs. #NavaKarnatakaManifesto”

We released the Congress Manifesto for Karnataka earlier today. It captures the “Mann Ki Baat” of the people of Karnataka and makes very specific commitments that we intend to deliver on, including creating 1 Cr. new jobs over the next 5 yrs. #NavaKarnatakaManifesto pic.twitter.com/hktUWrpeiI

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 27, 2018

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking to the party workers on the eve of the release of the poll manifesto, maintained there was no anti-incumbency against his government as the party has delivered as promised by them.

“Karnataka is a progressive state and this manifesto is a big step in taking the state to the next level. We will win the election and ensure that our government will fulfil the promises made in the manifesto,” he added.

The chief minister said the party would continue in its efforts to build a ‘Nava Karnataka’. The Congress party has prepared 35 separate manifestos for the Karnataka Assembly Polls due in May this year. Congress MP M VeerappaMoily, who was also the head of the Manifesto

Drafting Committee, had told the press on an earlier occasion, that the party has prepared 30 district manifestos, four regional manifestos and one comprehensive manifesto for the entire state.

Key highlights of Nava Karnataka manifesto

• Free education for girls at post-graduation level
• Committee to urban housing and urban slum development
• Improvement of transport facilities
• Ensure right to equality
• Improvement of social and economic status of minorities
• Water for every household
• Promotion of Kannada language across state
• Supply of free sanitary napkins to students of Govt colleges, polytechnics, abolish taxes on sanitary pads, distribute free sanitary pads through PDS for BPL women