PPP: Prison, Price, Pakoda, Sidda hits back at Modi

War of words turns ugly between CM & PM who said Cong will be reduced to PPP — Punjab, Puducherry, and Parivar

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “Punjab, Puducherry, ParivarCongress” jibe against his party, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday called BJP a “prison, price rise and pakoda” party.

“Dear Modiji, Heard you spun a new abbreviation ‘PPP’ today. Sir, we have always championed the 3 Ps of democracy — ‘Of the People, By the People, For the People’,” Mr Siddaramaiah said in a tweet shortly after Mr Modi’s attack.

“While your party is a ‘Prison’, ‘Price Rise’ & ‘Pakoda’ party. Am I right, Sir? #NijaHeliModi,” he said.

“Nijaheli” in Kannada means tell the truth.

All guns blazing, Mr Modi on Saturday mounted a scathing attack on the Congress over corruption, and asserted it will become “Punjab, Puducherry, Parivar” Congress after its defeat in the Karnataka Assembly polls.

“After May 15 (when poll results will be declared), Indian National Congress will be reduced to ‘PPP Congress’ — P for Punjab, P for Puducherry, and P for Parivar (family),” Mr Modi told an election rally in Gadag, where he predicted the state’s ruling party would be decimated in the elections.

Recalling the preaching of the saint poet and social reformer Shishunal Sharif, who hailed from the Hubballi region, the Prime Minister highlighted the ancient Hindi saying Baap Bada na bhaiya Sabse Bada rupaiya and alleged that money is more important than father and brother for Congress party.

Stating that Congress party has been wiped out in several states, he said that their party leaders have now become more panic than earlier Assembly elections due to fear of defeat in Karnataka.

The Chief Minister also hit out at Mr Modi’s attack regarding increase in assets belonging to some Congress legislator and minister.

“Sir, Your CM candidate took bribe in a cheque. One of your Reddy friends G. Janardhana Reddy conducted Rs 500 Cr wedding for his daughter at the height of demonetisation .... ,” Siddaramaiah tweeted (sic).

After May 15 (when poll results will be declared), Indian National Congress will be reduced to ‘PPP Congress’ — P for Punjab, P for Puducherry, and P for Parivar (family) NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister Sir, we have always championed the 3Ps of democracy — ‘Of the People, By the People, For the People’. Your party is a ‘Prison’, ‘Price Rise’ & ‘Pakoda’ party. SIDDARAMAIAH, Chief Minister