Bengaluru, 18 Sept

INDIA bloc would soon form Government at the Centre, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed on Wednesday as he predicted that the ruling NDA will not complete its five-year term. He also lashed out at the BJP over the recent statements of its leaders targeting former Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not complete five years. I don't believe in predicting the future, but I'm still saying it based on the political developments," Siddaramaiah said.

"See with the support of JD(U) and (N) Chandrababu Naidu (of TDP), Modi is surviving. They may withdraw support any moment, what will happen then?" he said at a press conference at his home-office 'Krishna.'

Responding to claims by BJP that the government headed by him in the State may collapse any time, he said: "We have won 136 seats (in the 224 member Assembly). How will it fall? So don't give importance to such claims about our government's collapse."

"Rahul Gandhi can't be cowed down by threats and life threats. Unable to digest his popularity they are indulging in such things," he said. Citing the recent remarks by BJP leaders Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Raghuraj Singh, as well as that of Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, Siddaramaiah said they have directly threatened Gandhi.

Asked whether there is a threat to the life of Rahul Gandhi by BJP, Siddaramaiah said: "What else are they doing? They are issuing life threats. Rs 11 lakh to those who will cut the tongue of Gandhi? -- By issuing life threats, attempts are on to finish him off politically. Karnataka Congress and our government strongly condemn it."

"Issuing life threats is not a small matter, " he said. "By not taking any action, they are encouraging the accused persons who are making statements against Rahul....I urge criminal cases and strict action against them."

Siddarmaiah noted that Marwah had openly issued an assassination threat against Rahul Gandhi, wherein he said that 'Gandhi baaz aaja, nahi toh aane wale time mein tera bhi wohi haal hoga jo teri dadi ka haal hua (you better behave, or you will meet the same fate as your grandmother)'. PTI