Now, Congress and BJP fight it out in Karnataka
What's the story
After Gujarat and Himachal polls are done and dusted, the action has now moved to Karnataka.
Other than Punjab, Karnataka is Congress's last-known bastion. BJP will try to wrest it, as it hardly has any presence in South.
Considering Karnataka's value for both parties, it's a slugfest.
In the latest episode, BJP president Amit Shah and CM Siddaramaiah have been exchanging barbs. Sample some here.
Amit Shah
First, Amit Shah set the stage for escalation
This squabble began when Shah, while addressing a pre-election rally at Chitradurga's Holalkere region, called the Siddaramaiah government "anti-Hindu."
He slammed them for not controlling the killings of BJP/RSS activists.
He bellowed that about 21 activists have been killed in last three years and the government isn't even investigating it.
India's south-western state has witnessed increased violence between the RSS/BJP and left activists.
Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah retaliates in kind, but finds himself cornered
To get even with Shah, Siddaramaiah claimed, "They are themselves terrorists in the BJP and RSS." This comment obviously kicked up a storm. RSS/BJP leaders tore into the Congress CM.
BJP termed his remark irresponsible and, in turn, blamed the Congress for festering terrorism.
BJP further blamed Congress for Kashmir separatism, Khalistan secessionist movement and colluding with Sri Lanka's LTTE.
Quote
Now, Siddaramaiah issues a clarification
Since his comments were being used against him, Siddaramaiah issued a clarification. He said, "I had said they are Hindutva terrorists. I am also a Hindu, but I'm a Hindu with humanity, they are Hindus without humanity. That is the difference between me and them."