Bengaluru: Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy on Monday called upon the people to defeat dictatorial and communal forces during the State Assembly polls.

Addressing a gathering after being felicitated on turning 100 on Monday, he appealed to progressive and secular forces to come together to defeat the communal party led by Narendra Modi, in Karnataka. “This election is Modi vs Karnataka. If Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in Karnataka, it will accord more strength to Modi, and he will turn out to be a dictator. It is the responsibility of all progressive and secular forces to defeat the BJP and restrain Modi from turning into a dictator,” he said.

Doreswamy said the Congress government responded to the demand of giving land to landless, which was the major demand of the forum he was leading.

Actor Prakash Raj said the challenge before the people is to make the country a harmonious, peaceful, and democratic country.