NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday questioned the sudden 'love and respect' that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is showing towards former PM HD Deve Gowda. Wondering if there is some secret understanding between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular), the Karnataka CM tweeted: "PM has suddenly discovered love & respect for Shri HD Deve Gowda. Shri Modi had not long ago said he will send Shri Deve Gowda to a retirement home. Is this new love a sign of the not so secret understanding between BJP & JDS? (sic)"
Siddaramaiah also tweeted a photo to attack the PM where Modi is seen with BJP's Karnataka CM face BS Yeddyurappa. The photo shows Yeddyurappa bowing to the PM. "Modi ji you are dispensing free advise about being courteous to Shri Deve Gowda. We all know how respectfully you treat your mentor Shri LK Advani & how courteous you were to HDD in 2014. How about showing some courtsey to this 75 year old man who is stooping so low before you? (sic)," he tweeted.
Modi ji you are dispensing free advise about being courteous to Shri Deve Gowda. We all know how respectfully you treat your mentor Shri LK Advani & how courteous you were to HDD in 2014.
How about showing some courtsey to this 75 year old man who is stooping so low before you? pic.twitter.com/pHp5QFCBPm
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 2, 2018
Siddaramaiah has often accused the BJP and JD(S) of having a tacit understanding, and even claimed that Kumaraswamy had met the BJP chief Amit Shah. His latest attack on the PM comes after the latter lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "insulting" HD Deve Gowda, saying it showed his "arrogance". Modi also showered praise on the former prime minister at an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka, and said Deve Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect.
"I heard the Congress president speak at political rallies 15-20 days ago....The way he referred to respected Deve Gowda ji....Is this your culture (sanskar)? This is arrogance. Your life (as Congress chief) has just begun. Deve Gowda is among the tallest leaders of the country. You are insulting him," Modi said.
"You think about it. If his temperament is such... Whose arrogance is on cloud seven...It is just the beginning of life...If he is doing this from today, how bad the coming days will be you will get to know from his deeds," Modi added. The Prime Minister was referring to Rahul's speeches at his rallies in JD(S) strongholds where he attacked Deve Gowda, and called his party the "B Team" of the BJP.
