Bengaluru, Sep 16 (IANS) Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra said on Wednesday that the party would organise the "Seva Sankalp Abhiyan" from September 17 to October 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years in public life.
Speaking to the media at the state BJP headquarters Jagannath Bhavan, Vijayendra said the campaign was being organised at the request of BJP President Nitin Nabin.
He noted that artists from various parts of Karnataka as well as Assam, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other states had gathered at the BJP office and created paintings as part of the campaign to commemorate PM Modi's 25 years of public service.
Vijayendra said that on September 17 at 7 p.m., lamps would be lit at historical places across Karnataka and the country, as well as at homes, as part of the campaign.
"Lamps would also be lit at locations associated with development works carried out during PM Modi's tenure, including the Shivamogga airport," he added.
BJP MP B.Y. Raghavendra and local legislators would participate in the programme, Vijayendra said.
He added that the lighting of lamps would be accompanied by prayers for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long life and good health and for the fulfilment of the vision of a developed India.
"Service activities will be carried out with the objective of ensuring that the country remains among the leading nations amid global challenges," he said.
Vijayendra also praised the artists who created paintings depicting PM Modi's 25 years of public service and said they were helping remind people of his achievements.
On Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad's recent remarks supporting jailed JNU activist Umar Khalid, Vijayendra alleged that Congress leaders had earlier protected those who had allegedly raised "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans inside Vidhana Soudha.
He termed Hariprasad's statement as "an anti-national act" and alleged that such statements were creating a sense of insecurity in the state.
"The ruling party (Congress) is working to disturb law and order," he alleged.
Vijayendra also criticised the Congress government, saying, "The Congress party's sins have reached their limit."
He alleged that the Congress was acting under the influence of power and expressed confidence that BJP workers had the strength to counter it.
On the Congress government, Vijayendra said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had completed three months in office but questioned what he had achieved during the period.
He described the Congress as "one house with three doors" and alleged that differences among Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and Hariprasad were weakening the state government.
Vijayendra claimed that Hariprasad had been kept away from the stage during the state government's 100-day programme and alleged that the Congress was distancing itself from him.
He also urged the state government to waive agricultural loans and take measures to address the problems faced by farmers in drought-affected areas.
He said Ministers should tour drought-hit regions and provide relief.
The State BJP President said the Kasturirangan report should be discussed comprehensively in the State Assembly and measures should be taken to ensure that people living on the fringes of forests do not face difficulties.
On the issue of Umar Khalid, Vijayendra also alleged that the Congress government was pursuing minority appeasement.
He criticised the state government for allegedly allowing a programme involving Umar Khalid and praised the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for opposing it.
He also alleged that the state government was insulting Hindus by creating difficulties for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and said the BJP would work to counter what he described as the Congress government's attempt to return to power through intimidation.
--IANS
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