Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Centre for allegedly discriminating against Karnataka while handing out drought compensation, ANI reported. At her first rally in almost two years, she accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of refusing to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and thereby insulting the farmers of the state.

“This was like rubbing salt into the wounds of farmers,” Gandhi said at a rally in Vijayapura ahead of Saturday’s Assembly elections. “I ask Modiji, is this your ‘sabka-saath, sabka-vikas’?”

The former Congress president, who was succeeded by her son Rahul Gandhi last year, claimed her party had worked for Karnataka’s development and made it the country’s top-ranked state. “CM Siddaramaiah’s schemes such as Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and Krishi Yantradhare have improved the lives of crores,” Gandhi said. “Indira canteens have been set up because we believe that affordable and nutritious food is everyone’s right.”

Gandhi said the prime minister was a good orator but spoke like an actor, The Indian Express reported. “I will be happy if his speeches can end hunger of the country but speeches cannot fill empty stomachs, food is needed for that.”

She also accused him of distorting facts and using the names of historical figures for political gains. At a rally in Kalaburagi on May 3, the prime minister accused Congress governments of mistreating iconic soldiers such as Field Marshall KC Cariappa and General KS Thimayya.

Gandhi questioned Modi’s model of anti-corruption and asked why the Lokpal had not yet been set up. She ended her speech expressing the hope that the people of Karnataka would re-elect the Congress as only it could provide inclusive governance.