Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public rally in Belagavi on Sunday, claimed that Rahul Gandhi had “insulted the great kings and queens of India such as Shivaji Maharaj and Kittur Chennamma.” He further said the “shehzada” (referring to Mr. Gandhi), did not dare speak of the “atrocities committed by Nawabs, Nizams, Sultans, and Badshahs, over several centuries”.
Speaking at a campaign rally for BJP candidates Jagadish Shettar and Anna Saheb Jolle, Mr. Modi furthered the Hindu-Muslim narrative of his recent speeches, “The Congress prince has said that the Rajas and Maharajas of the past were brutal rules who snatched the properties of the common people. He said they routinely exploited their subjects.” Offering his interpretation of the statement, the Prime Minister claimed, “What does this mean? It only means that he has insulted great kings like Shivaji Maharaj and queens like Kittur Chennamma.”
What Rahul said
Speaking in Vijayapura on April 26 in a rally, Mr. Gandhi said, “We should not forget that people have got all their rights from the Constitution. Before that, rajas and maharajas used to rule India. Today, if the common people, the poor, the Dalits, the tribals have a voice, it is because of our Constitution. We have to protect it at all cost.”
Mr. Modi said at Belagavi, “I want to ask the shehzada, you insult and criticise kings and queens, but you do not speak of the atrocities committed by Nawabs, Nizams, Sultans, and Badshahs, over several centuries? Is that because you do not know about the contribution of the kings and queens, or is it because you want to indulge in appeasement politics?”
Mr. Modi asked if Mr. Gandhi knew the contribution of the benevolent kings of Mysore. “The good governance and patriotism of kings and queens is historical and inspiring. Banaras Hindu University would not have been built without the support of the king of Banaras. It was queen Ahalyabai Holkar who reconstructed temples. It was the king of Baroda who recognised the talent of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and invited him to his court. The king sent him to foreign countries for higher studies. Does the Congress prince know any of this?” Mr. Modi asked.
Going hammer and tongs on what he called “appeasement politics” of the Congress, Mr. Modi claimed the Congress is “aligning with parties that keep praising Aurangzeb”. He said they do not criticise “Sultans who were destroying temples and engaging in cow slaughter”.
Representation of history
Mr. Modi said that Congress’ “appeasement politics” is reflected not only in their governance but also in their representation of history. “All that is because of vote bank politics. That is why they have a skewed vision,” he said.
“Unlike the Congress, we are inspired by Kittur Rani Chennamma. The NDA government has opened various wings of the Army for women. It has allowed girl students in Sainik schools. There is a Sainik school named after Sangolli Rayanna in Belagavi. The number of women in Central police forces has doubled,” he said.
About Neha
In Sirsi, Mr. Modi referred to the killing of Neha Hiremath on a college campus in Hubball also as an outcome of “vote-bank politics.” “Neha, a young girl, was killed on her college campus in Hubballi. What encouraged the accused to do that? It is because they know that they will be saved by those who are hungry for vote-bank politics. Will you forgive such parties that indulge in vote- bank politics?,” he asked.
“Can you trust the Congress to protect your daughters after what happened in Hubballi? The whole country is worried,” he asked.
