Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Accusing the Congress of distorting history as part of a conspiracy to divide society, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Karanataka’s Chitradurga, flayed the Siddaramaiah government for celebrating the "jayantis of Sultans" for the sake of "votebank politics".
Modi was apparently referring to the Siddaramaiah government's controversial decision to celebrate "Tipu Jayanti" every year on 10 November , commemorating Tipu Sultan, the legendary 18th century ruler of Mysore.
Congress is a party that just cares for votebank politics, and as part of a conspiracy to divide society, makes a habit of twisting history and playing with people’s emotions. Veera Madakari and Onake Obavva lie forgotten, but for the sake of votebank politics they are celebrating birth anniversaries of sultans. Congress has insulted the people of Karnataka and Chitradurga.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
A Dalit woman, Onake Obavva, was the legendary wife of a soldier in the army of Madakari Nayaka, the last ruler of Chitradurga.
She is said to have fought single-handedly and killed with a pestle several invading soldiers of the army of Hyder Ali, father of Tipu Sultan, in 1779. She was killed by Hyder Ali's soldiers in her valiant effort to protect the fort where her husband was the guard of a watch tower.
"By celebrating this jayanti, Congress has insulted people of Karnataka and Chitradurga. They have played with sentiments and feelings of people of Chitradurga,” Modi said.
“The way in which Congress had betrayed the legacy and courage of the sons and daughters of this land cannot be forgiven,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi also accused the Congress of sidelining several national stalwarts for the sake of one family.
I want everyone to know how the proud son of this land, Nijalingappa ji was treated by this party. He was a great leader. But this one family did not miss any opportunity to insult such a leader. What was Nijalingappa ji’s crime? He questioned the wrong policies of Jawaharlal Nehru. Congress also humiliated Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Even as great a leader as Ambedkar was never accepted by Congress. Thousands of schemes are named after just one family. Wherever you go in Delhi, plots and houses are occupied in the name of one family. People kept on demanding a memorial for Babasaheb Ambedkar but the Congress party never had the time for him.Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
He also hit out at the Congress for "spreading lies and trying to mislead Dalits."
(With inputs from PTI)
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