Shivamogga: Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came out guns blazing on Tuesday, with Mr Gandhi mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying he had been trained by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to “stand up, hold a stick, wear shorts and tell lies” to the people of the nation, and the CM going on the offensive against state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa on his home turf, appealing to voters not to elect him as "he had tarnished the image of Shivamogga with his corruption.”

Mr Gandhi said: “Now the Prime Minister is beginning to understand that the nation cannot be ruled through false assurances, arrogance, hate, and with sticks or wearing of half trousers. It can prosper only through love and by uniting people to make it stronger and not by creating hate in society.”




Mr Siddaramaiah in turn, labelled Mr Yeddyurappa "corrupt", saying that the late CMs, Kadidal Manjappa and S Bangarappa of the Congress were also from Shivammogga, but were not corrupt.