Karnataka polls last opportunity to end politics of hate: Shashi Tharoor

Bengaluru, May 6: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday termed the May 12 Assembly elections the last opportunity to end the politics of hatred even as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spreading ‘unpleasant propaganda’ about Bengaluru.

“Calling Bengaluru with names like garbage city and sin city is an insult to people. The city and its people must be above petty politics. People deserve support of the central government, not insult,” Tharoor told a press conference here.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP gave full marks to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. “There’s clearly a positive spirit, and it’s time to reward the government for its performance. For the first time in decades, a government has completed its full term and has delivered on its promises.”

Tharoor targeted Modi over the ‘recklessly irresponsible demonetisation’ which he said was a bad idea, badly implemented. He added that the GST was a good idea, but badly implemented. “The Karnataka government is a lodestar of good economic management.”

He said the Karnataka elections is the last opportunity to help continue the momentum of ‘forces of freedom and progress.’

AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said there was not a single achievement of the BJP that Modi could showcase in Karnataka.

Singhvi laid out statistics to claim that Karnataka topped in terms of investments, manufacturing, IT exports and that the state was ahead of BJP-ruled states in key health, education indicators. “On every single important criterion, BJP-ruled states perform the worst, yet Modi has the sheer audacity to spew lies and say that BJP states perform better than Congress-ruled Karnataka.”

'Tipu must be praised'

Shashi Tharoor hailed erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan, when asked about the Government of Pakistan’s tweet on Friday to mark his death anniversary.  “Tipu is a hero to some and villain to some. He fought the British and also raided other kingdoms. The Congress’ stand is that Tipu did things that should be recognized and praised,” he told reporters. Tipu is a controversial figure with historians divided on his image. The BJP had opposed the Congress government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. “Let the BJP dwell in the past. The Congress wants to focus on the future.”