Siddaramaiah slams Modi's Bengaluru speech as 'Centre's failure'
Synopsis
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah turned Modi's own austerity advice — urging Indians to buy less gold and cut fuel use — into a political weapon, calling it an admission of the Centre's economic failure. With Karnataka's GDP growth outpacing the national average, Siddaramaiah's counter-offensive signals a sharper Congress strategy ahead.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Monday attacked PM Modi over his Bengaluru speech, questioning the capacity in which he addressed the gathering.
Siddaramaiah called Modi's appeal to reduce petrol and gold consumption a contradiction of the Centre's claimed economic progress.
Karnataka's per capita income stands at ₹4.33 lakh vs the national average of ₹2.11 lakh , according to Siddaramaiah.
The state's GDP growth rate is 8.1% against the national 7.4% , and Karnataka contributes 9.19% to India's GDP.
Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of betraying past allies and alleged Opposition leaders were "blackmailed" into joining the party.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speech in Bengaluru, questioning whether Modi had addressed the gathering as the Prime Minister of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president, or the Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka. The remarks came through a press release issued by the Chief Minister's office.
Siddaramaiah Questions Modi's Role
Siddaramaiah demanded that the Prime Minister clarify the "confusion" created in people's minds about the capacity in which he addressed the gathering on Sunday. He alleged that rather than targeting the Congress government in Karnataka, Modi's speech inadvertently reflected the "failure" of the BJP-led Central government and his "helplessness" in reviving the party's fortunes in the state.
The Chief Minister accused Modi of lowering the dignity of the Prime Minister's office through speeches allegedly filled with "lies, hatred and jealousy". He invoked former Prime Ministers, stating: "Prime Ministers of this country, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, never stooped to the level of street-style speeches or abused Opposition parties like petty politicians." He further alleged that Modi appeared to still be in "election campaign mode" during his Bengaluru visit.
Austerity Appeal Draws Fire
Siddaramaiah took particular aim at Modi's recent appeal to citizens to reduce consumption of petrol and edible oil and to purchase less gold, calling it a contradiction of the Centre's claims of economic progress. "The Prime Minister, who claimed he would make India a five-trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25 and declared that poverty had been eradicated, is now asking people not to buy gold, reduce fuel consumption, and avoid foreign travel. What kind of development is this?" he asked.
He alleged that rising prices of petrol, diesel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and edible oil were the result of the Centre's "confused foreign policy", claiming India was caught in the middle of a conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. "At such a time, had India taken a firm stand on the side of justice and morality, the country would not be facing this difficult situation," he said.
Karnataka's Economic Numbers Cited
Siddaramaiah highlighted Karnataka's economic performance under the Congress government, stating that the state's per capita income stood at ₹4.33 lakh compared to the national average of ₹2.11 lakh. He added that Karnataka's GDP growth rate was 8.1% against the national rate of 7.4%, and that the state contributes 9.19% to the country's GDP. He also claimed Karnataka contributes the second-highest share in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections after Maharashtra. "Prime Minister, what more proof do you need that Karnataka is moving rapidly on the path of development?" he asked.
BJP's Internal Troubles in Karnataka
The Chief Minister further accused the BJP of betraying several regional parties that had allied with it in the past, including the Bahujan Samaj Party, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Peoples Democratic Party, Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal, and National Conference. He alleged that many Opposition leaders had been "blackmailed" into joining the BJP, and said people were now laughing at the irony of the BJP accusing Congress of betrayal.
Taking a swipe at the BJP's internal situation in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said the party had become like "crabs trapped in a basket", with leaders pulling each other down and engaging in "political harakiri". With assembly politics in Karnataka heating up, both sides appear set for an extended war of words in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
He forces a debate about the gap between the Centre's economic narrative and ground reality. The Karnataka numbers he cites — per capita income nearly double the national average, GDP growth outpacing the Centre — are a deliberate inversion of the BJP's usual 'double engine government' argument. What's notable is the absence of a concrete policy counter; Siddaramaiah is fighting on optics and rhetoric, not a rival economic programme. Whether that is enough to blunt Modi's direct pitch to Karnataka voters remains the central question.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Siddaramaiah attack PM Modi's Bengaluru speech?
Siddaramaiah said Modi's speech reflected the BJP-led Centre's failures rather than any shortcoming of the Karnataka Congress government. He questioned whether Modi was speaking as Prime Minister, BJP state president, or Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka.
What is Siddaramaiah's criticism of Modi's austerity appeal?
Siddaramaiah argued that Modi's call to reduce gold purchases, cut fuel consumption, and avoid foreign travel contradicts the Centre's claims of economic achievement, including the promise of a five-trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25.
What economic figures did Siddaramaiah cite for Karnataka?
He stated Karnataka's per capita income is ₹4.33 lakh against the national average of ₹2.11 lakh, its GDP growth rate is 8.1% versus 7.4% nationally, and the state contributes 9.19% to India's GDP.
What did Siddaramaiah say about BJP's relationship with regional parties?
He accused the BJP of betraying past allies including BSP, TMC, DMK, AIADMK, Peoples Democratic Party, Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal, and National Conference, and alleged that Opposition leaders were blackmailed into joining the party.
What did Siddaramaiah say about the BJP's internal situation in Karnataka?
He described the Karnataka BJP as being like 'crabs trapped in a basket', with leaders pulling each other down and engaging in what he called 'political harakiri'.
