Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress on the issue of autonomy to Kashmir during his visit to the election-bound Karnataka on Sunday.
“The Congress is playing politics over Kashmir, a state for whose security thousands of bravehearts have laid down their lives. Can the Congress help the nation develop? The country has lost hopes and expectation from them,” Modi told party workers after arriving at the HAL Airport here on Sunday afternoon.

Modi’s remarks referred to senior Congress leader and former union minister P Chidambaram’s statement that greater autonomy for Kashmir was a demand that needed serious examination. The party has since distanced from the remark.
Modi expressed shock on how the Congress, which he said had ruled the country for many years, was now echoing voices calling for Kashmir’s freedom.
“India is the land of Sardar Patel and we will not allow national security to be compromised at any cost. But the Congress is shamelessly speaking the language that is spoken in Pakistan,” Modi said.

The September 2016 surgical strike on militant launch pads was “a matter of pride for the nation, but the Congress couldn’t handle it.” Modi also accused the Congress of spreading lies on the Doklam disengagement with China, in which “India displayed the military and diplomatic strength that the world saw.”
Karnataka, the last major south Indian state where the Congress is in power, will have fresh polls next year. “It looks like Karnataka can’t wait for the polls, Modi said. “Like other states, Karnataka wants to join the development path. I’m confident Karnataka will be integrated into the nation’s development.”
He also quipped that Congress’ arrogance was on the seventh cloud and that the party does not want to introspect even after defeat.
Earlier on in the day, Modi visited the shrine of Lord Manjunatha in Dharmasthala.