Karnataka polls: Modi invokes nationalism, accuses Congress of 'insulting' Army

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invoked nationalism and accused the Congress of “insulting Indian Army” by questioning the authenticity of surgical strikes.

While addressing a rally in Kalaburagi area of poll-bound Karnataka, Modi accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of “disrespecting” the national song ‘vande mataram’.

“They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that...and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun?” he said.

Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister said that a Congress leader even called the Army chief a “goonda” (gangster) after the surgical strike.

Modi said that it was in the nature of Congress party to forget national heroes like General (KS) Thimayya and General (KM) Cariappa, two legends of the Army, who hailed from Karnataka.

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“Forgetting the national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and V K Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (K M) Cariappa,” Modi said.

The prime minister said that while the BJP approved the Swaminathan Commission recommendation, the Congress committed a sin by not sanctioning the commission’s report to increase MSP for farmers.

“Congress sat over Swaminathan Commission recommendation to increase MSP for farmers. It's not expected of them to accept this sin but they can at least keep quiet, when our govt has approved its implementation,” he said.