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Dinesh Gundu Rao, while addressing the controversy over a poster released by the Congress, ended up creating another.
Senior Congress leader and Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao sparked a fresh controversy by claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the Pahalgam attack and other terrorist attacks to gain electoral advantage. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)
Senior Congress leader and Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday sparked fresh controversy by claiming that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is “using” the Pahalgam terror attack for electoral purposes with an eye on the upcoming Bihar elections.
Gundu Rao was speaking to news agency ANI on another controversy that has engulfed the Congress where the party tweeted a controversial poster criticising the Prime Minister.
While explaining the context of the poster, Gundu Rao said: “The people who put out the poster were in a way questioning Mr Modi (asking) ‘Where is Mr Modi? Is he addressing the media? Is he clarifying anything?’”
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“He goes to Bihar and takes part in an election rally and all the other political leaders are called for an all-party meeting… So, is the election more important for him, or the security of the country,” the Karnataka minister questioned.
He said that any other leader would have taken questions and answered them. “When Pulwama happened he was in Jim Corbett, shooting and continued with the shoot. When this happens in Pahalgam, he hangs around in Bihar and there he gives a fiery speech, to make use of that for his political gain. Pulwama helped in Lok Sabha elections, Godhra helped him in Gujarat elections and this he is using for Bihar elections,” Gundu Rao said, adding that is why the poster was put out.
“You should think of the country first. This is why the poster was put out. We want him to come and talk to the people,” he said.
#WATCH | Bengaluru | On Congress’s ‘Gayab’ post targeting PM Modi, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao says, “…What Congress wanted to say was – where is Mr Modi, is he addressing the media? Is he clarifying anything? Can people ask him what has happened?…Pulwama helped him… pic.twitter.com/jo3r0nTR6y— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the attack on tourists in Pahalgam by Pakistan-based terrorists on April 22 cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to the country.
He then addressed a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani where, in a rare occurrence, he spoke in English and vowed to punish the perpetrators even if it required him to reach the “ends of the Earth”.
Reacting to the Congress leader’s statement, Shehzad Poonawalla, a spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Congress of supporting Pakistan and said the party may distance itself from statements by its leaders but it is giving a clean chit to Pakistan.
“Gundu Rao, a minister from Karnataka, a Congressman, says Pulwama helped in Lok Sabha elections, Pahalgam will help in Bihar elections. (Such statements) are akin to giving clean chit to Pakistan. Blaming Indians and Indian agencies for Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attacks, which Congress party has been doing. Waddetiwar, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Saifuddin Soz – what will Congress do about it? Congress is PP, which means, Pakistan Party,” he said.
Dinesh Gundu Rao reacted to the furore and questioned the media for asking him for soundbytes. “Why are you coming to me? If the party has issued a gag order, then why did you come to me? Don’t come to me”
“These are all ridiculous things. The party is clear about its stand. It will co-operate to thwart any forces against the country,” he further added.