Rahul Gandhi did not give time to meet, Siddaramaiah rejects BJP’s allegations

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied BJP leader Amit Malviya’s allegation that Rahul Gandhi has ‘insulted’ him by refusing to meet him. Siddaramaiah said that his primary purpose in Delhi was to discuss the Dussehra air show in Mysuru with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Siddaramaiah said in a post on X that my main job in Delhi was to discuss with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh the air show to be held during Dussehra in Mysore. Rahul Gandhi has a great affection for the people of Karnataka. Siddaramaiah further said that he always remembers how Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were elected from Karnataka and how the state has stood with the Congress at every difficult turn. The Gandhi family, including Shri Rahul Gandhi, is indebted to the love given by the people of Karnataka and our AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is a proud Kannadiga. The CM accused the BJP of betraying the Kannadigas by denying them central funds. He said Rahul Gandhi is committed to bringing about positive and transformational change in Karnataka. He said the government has betrayed the Kannadigas by denying them the funds they deserve. Even when Karnataka was hit by devastating floods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not say a word. He also alleged that BJP MPs from Karnataka do not have the courage to stand up to PM Modi for the rights of Kannadigas. Earlier in a post on X, Amit Malviya had accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting Siddaramaiah by not giving him an appointment. “Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah insulted in Delhi! He came all the way to the capital but Rahul Gandhi did not give him an appointment—and now he has returned without meeting him,” Malviya said in the post. He further said this is not the first time a Gandhi has insulted a senior Karnataka leader. History remembers how Rajiv Gandhi had unnecessarily sacked an ailing Veerendra Patil, leading to the downfall of the Congress in the state. Now, a weakened Siddaramaiah has to hide behind the very man who is plotting against him—DK Shivakumar, who is eagerly waiting to take over his chair. The Congress, and especially the Gandhi family, has always treated Kannadigas with disdain. This is just the latest example.