Mysuru: Terming State BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa (BSY) hosting lunch to Dalits at his home in Bengaluru as a poll gimmick, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has wondered what was the contribution of BSY to dalit communities, when he was the CM.

Speaking to press persons on his arrival at Mandakalli airport here this morning, Siddharamaiah, asserting that Dalits also comprised all oppressed sections of the society, said he and other Congress leaders were regularly having lunch with marginalised communities and the BJP leaders had no right to challenge them in this regard.

Referring to the BJP’s planned Parivarthana Yatra in the State to oust the Congress Government, the CM said the rally was aimed at misleading the people and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah’s magic won’t work in the State.

Criticising PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ during which the PM had said that violence in the name of religion would not be tolerated, the CM said the real agenda of BJP was communalism and as such, the PM’s remarks were only words with no action.

Alleging that the NDA Government at the Centre was a non-performer, Siddharamaiah expressed hope that a secular Government would be formed at the Centre after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Replying to a question on Indira Canteens, the Chief Minister, maintaining that the canteens were a huge success in Bengaluru, said they will be set up in other parts across the State too.

District Minister Dr.H.C. Mahadevappa, MyLAC Chairman H.A. Venkatesh, KEA Chairman Siddaraju, DC D. Randeep and a host of other officials were present at the airport.