No need to learn patriotism from PM Modi, says CM Kumaraswamy

Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Tuesday said he has lived in Karnataka, which is in India, and there was no need for him to learn from Narendra Modi about "patriotism."

"I'm in Karnataka, I also know things, it is not only PM Modi who knows...Kumaraswamy has lived and is living in Karnataka, in India, I need not learn from PM Modi on patriotism," Kumaraswamy told reporters.

Responding to Modi's attack on him during his rallies in the State, he said "We have shed tears when a soldier's wife (Kalavathi, wife of CRPF man Guru who died in Pulwama attack) was made to shed tears in Malavalli."

"Only Narendra Modi has to pat himself on his own back.. that is all..," Kumaraswamy said when asked about PM Modi criticising opposition leaders including him for questioning air strikes at Balakot in Pakistan.

PM Modi during an election rally at Chitradurga on Tuesday said the whole world stood with India, but "our Mahamilavati dal here" (Congress-JDS), was condemning Modi instead of Pakistan.

"The Chief Minister here (Karnataka) went a step ahead and said the bravery of Indian soldiers should not be spoken, because it will affect their vote bank... I want to ask the Chief Minister whether his vote bank is in India or in Pakistan. Chief Minister should clarify on this," Modi had said.

The prime minister lashed out at the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka where, he said, the two parties had come together for the sake of "power" and to serve self-interests.

PM Modi said the same would be replicated if "Mahamilavat" came to power, deriding the anti-BJP "grand alliance" of opposition parties.

Responding to it, Kumaraswamy said "Has BJP won in Karnataka..if you go by him in Karnataka.. BJP has also not won...There is nothing to react to it (PM speech) as there is no issue there...he has only lied."

The Congress' Karnataka unit too attacked Modi in a tweet.

"Shameless PM @narendramodi, after 5 years of disaster, nothing to offer to the people of Karnataka, continues to politicize our brave armed forces.

The nation is watching how low the PM can stoop for votes by comparing the voters of Karnataka to terror breeding Pakistan," the party tweeted.