Huballi-Dharwad (Karnataka): Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a veiled attack, over the latters’ remarks in the UK about Indian democracy.

The Prime Minister was addressing a rally in poll-bound Karnataka. While not naming Rahul, PM Modi said some people were putting the Indian democracy in the dock despite it being ingrained in the country’s political culture over centuries.

“There are numerous factors that make India not just the largest democracy in the world but also the mother of democracy. I was privileged to have inaugurated the statue of Bhagwan Basaveshwara in London. But it is unfortunate that questions were raised on India’s democracy in London,” he said.

The PM added, “The roots of Indian democracy go deep and dates back centuries. No power in the world can sully or harm the tradition of Indian democracy. However, some people are continuing to put Indian democracy in the dock. Such people are insulting Bhagwan Basaveshwara, the people of Karnataka, Indian tradition and the 130 crore Indian citizens. The people of Karnataka have to be eware of such people.”

Rahul’s remarks earlier had drawn severe criticism from the BJP.

Calling Karnataka an “engine of high-tech India”, PM Modi said, “Good and modern infrastructure eases the lives of the common people. In the last 9 years, the network of roads has doubled in villages under ‘PM Sadak Yojana’. Not just roads, unprecedented expansion is afoot for more airports and enhancing the railway network. Karnataka is the engine of high-tech India,” he said.

PM Modi also elaborated on the developmental projects run by the Centre, saying that his government opened 250 new medical colleges in the country over the last 9 years.

“For providing clean potable water, the central and state governments are working together. The foundation for a project worth over Rs 1000 crore, under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, has been laid. We have brought about a three-fold increase in the number of AIIMS in the country. In seven decades, our country only had 380 medical colleges. However, over the last 9 years, 250 new medical colleges have been opened,” he said.

“IIT Dharwad is an example of BJP’s ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’. Around 4 years ago, I laid the foundation stone for this institute. Right from the foundation to the eventual inauguration, we worked at great speed. Receiving quality education is a fundamental right of all. Better educational institutes will enable more and more of our children to access quality education. Over the last 9 years, the number of top educational institutes in our country has grown manifold,” PM Modi added.

(With Inputs From ANI)