Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah didn’t hold back at the Congress Working Committee meeting on Wednesday, launching a fierce critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. He expressed deep concern that Indian democracy is “under siege,” asserting that the much-touted “double engine sarkar” has devolved into a “double-edged sword” severing the very soul of the republic.
Speaking at the CWC gathering in Patna, Siddaramaiah stated that the fundamental principles of the Constitution—liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice—are being systematically stifled by Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP, and their ideological mentors within the RSS.
“Today, India finds itself shadowed by authoritarianism,” he claimed. “Our institutions are being seized, freedoms are being restricted, and the democratic will of the people is being undermined.”
He accused the BJP of widespread “vote theft,” manipulating elections, illicitly acquiring MLAs, and silencing citizens nationwide. Siddaramaiah commended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for bravely exposing alleged electoral rigging in Mahadevapura and Aland in Karnataka, highlighting that Gandhi’s unwavering opposition to such manipulation inspires all who believe in a truly fair democracy.
The Chief Minister further criticized, “While democracy is being eroded domestically, the Modi-led government has also failed our nation on the international stage. India’s foreign policy, once globally respected, is now characterized by silence and subservience. When Donald Trump brazenly claimed credit for brokering peace in Kashmir, Modi remained silent. This isn’t diplomacy; it’s a grave compromise of our national sovereignty.”
“Under the BJP’s administration, ordinary Indians are being crushed,” Siddaramaiah lamented. “Essential goods prices are skyrocketing, unemployment has shattered the hopes of our youth, and inequality is surging to unprecedented levels. The Modi government has transformed India into a country where billionaires flourish while the poor struggle to afford even two meals a day.”
He concluded by noting that Modi has “mastered the art of portraying failures as triumphs,” observing that “each time his government faces a setback, he cleverly rebrands it as a significant accomplishment.”
Siddaramaiah also emphasized that it was the Congress’s consistent advocacy that finally compelled the Union government to agree to a caste census, a crucial step towards ensuring equitable representation for all Indians. He added, “Let’s not forget, the landmark guarantee schemes we pioneered in Karnataka are now being brazenly imitated even in BJP-governed states.”