Tensions soared in Karnataka politics as former minister M.P. Renukacharya, a prominent BJP voice, condemned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s ‘coward’ jibe at PM Narendra Modi. Addressing reporters at Jagannath Bhavan, he issued a stark demand: apologize to India or face the consequences.
Renukacharya’s outrage was palpable. ‘Siddaramaiah’s words demean not just Modi but 140 crore countrymen,’ he stated firmly. He harked back to 2014’s ‘mass murderer’ slur, punished by the electorate. ‘History repeats—people won’t tolerate this.’
He painted Siddaramaiah as a sycophant. ‘Bending to Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka for power? Shame on a leader of your stature.’ On Parliament, he clarified: ‘Modi heeded the Speaker amid Congress antics—not cowardice, but protocol.’
Power corrupts language, Renukacharya implied. ‘Three years in, your record is barren. Such barbs have buried Congress’s legacy.’ Evoking Modi’s humble origins, he quipped, ‘Isn’t our chaiwala PM today?’ Congress’s ‘Indira is India’ slogan now rings hollow.
Rumors swirl of defections from Siddaramaiah’s camp. Renukacharya listed Modi’s triumphs: US trade wins, Pulwama revenge where precision strikes dismantled terror bases swiftly, irrespective of victims’ faiths.
He slammed disinformation on VV Giri-Ramji, parliament-approved and robust. Accusations flew that Siddaramaiah manipulated the Governor. ‘Reduced to three states, Congress is fading fast.’
Context: Post a atypical Lok Sabha session sans Modi’s reply on the President’s address, Siddaramaiah cried foul. Renukacharya, respecting age, urged unconditional atonement. This episode highlights Karnataka’s polarized landscape ahead of future battles.