Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying the dignity, seriousness, and propriety of the Prime Minister’s post through his speeches “filled with lies, poor taste, hatred and jealousy”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday (May 11) asked Mr. Modi to come with some preparations before making allegations, as false statements do not befit the Prime Minister.

“Mr. Modi must clarify whether his speech in Bengaluru was delivered as the Prime Minister of the country or as the State BJP President or as the Leader of Opposition. His remarks reflected the failure of his own government at the Centre and helplessness in being unable to correct the poor condition of his party in Karnataka,” Mr. Siddaramaiah hit back at the Prime Minister on social media platform ‘X’. He took a dig at the Prime Minister by saying that Mr. Modi appeared to still be in the hangover of the election rallies in five States.

Mr. Siddaramaiah’s counter-attack at Mr. Modi came after the latter on Sunday (May 10) accused the Congress of betraying the DMK in the greed for power, and accused the Congress government in Karnataka of spending more time in addressing internal strife than addressing people’s problems.

Providing statistics on Karnataka’s economy under Congress, Mr. Siddaramaiah urged the Prime Minister: “Next time you make allegations against our government, please come with some preparation. False statements do not befit the Prime Minister.”

Turning his attention on the BJP state unit, the Chief Minister said, “There are half a dozen factions opposing former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and his family. Though leaders of these factions have made hundreds of allegations against Mr. Yediyurappa, the so-called leader (Mr. Modi) with a 56-inch chest does not have the courage to take disciplinary action against them. The words of the State BJP President carry no value.” He further said: “The BJP has deteriorated to such an extent that it is now falling at the feet of leaders who are suspended by the party and bringing them back for election campaigning.”

On the Prime Minister’s remark on betrayal by the Congress, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “Had Mr. Modi remembered the history of betrayal by his own party, he would certainly not have accused the Congress of betrayal. The list of regional parties that allied with BJP and were later betrayed continues to grow. The list of Opposition leaders who were blackmailed into betraying their own parties and joining the BJP is also growing.”

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the Prime Minister who had patted himself for eradicating poverty is now pleading with people not to buy gold, avoid foreign travel, and reduce consumption of edible oil and fuel. “What kind of development is this? People of this country are mature enough to understand that the hardship they are facing in their daily lives with petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and edible oil becoming costlier is the result of the country’s confused foreign policy. Whom will you blame for this failure? Jawaharlal Nehru? The Congress?”