On Karnataka’s Political Subject, Congress & BJP Rating Self-Targets On Corruption, Worth Hike – News18
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Siddaramaiah’s adviser’s declaration on corruption and Centre’s choice to hike costs of LPG and excise duties on petrol and diesel have left the Congress and BJP red-faced in Karnataka
Members of Karnataka Mahila Congress elevate slogans throughout a protest in opposition to the latest hike in LPG value by Rs 50 per cylinder in Bengaluru. (PTI)
The Congress and the BJP have managed to attain self-goals—one tripping over corruption, the opposite stumbling on value hikes—in Karnataka.
The ruling occasion in Karnataka rode to energy on the again of corruption allegations in opposition to the BJP, accusing the earlier authorities of charging a 40 per cent fee on improvement works. Now, in an ironic twist, the Congress finds itself in an embarrassing spot.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah’s personal financial adviser and Yelaburga MLA, Basavaraj Rayareddy, declared that “Karnataka is primary in corruption”. The assertion got here throughout a district-level interplay organised by the Regional Imbalance Redressal Committee in Koppal on April 8.
The ‘40 per cent fee’ allegation made by the Congress in opposition to the then BJP-led Basavaraj Bommai authorities had rocked state politics and have become a significant ballot plank, serving to Congress wrest energy within the 2023 meeting elections.
Rayareddy had stirred bother final 12 months too. He claimed the state had no cash for improvement works because of the burden of Congress’ assure schemes, which value practically Rs 65,000 crore yearly. “Many legislators have been demanding funds for improvement of their constituencies, however there is no such thing as a cash with the federal government to present them,” he had stated in July 2023.
The Congress had promised 5 ensures—free energy, free bus rides, stipends for ladies heads of households, amongst others—throughout its marketing campaign.
Rayareddy’s newest bombshell: corruption is very rampant in Kalyana Karnataka. “Authorities buildings have gotten dilapidated inside 10 years. Earlier, they’d final two to a few many years. That’s the size of corruption,” he stated. He added that the issue persists throughout occasion strains, however the political injury was already finished.
He didn’t spare the paperwork both, saying officers behave like elected representatives. “The chief minister might have his personal views on corruption, however mine are completely different.”
The opposition BJP discovered a brand new keep on with beat the Congress with, due to this somewhat candid confession, and the saffron occasion pounced on the chance.
BJP state president BY Vijayendra stated Rayareddy had “uncovered the darkish face of this authorities’s corruption”. Addressing Siddaramaiah, Vijayendra stated Rayareddy’s remarks replicate the proverb: “Because the king, so are his ministers and officers.”
“He has proven how Karnataka, below your administration, has change into synonymous with corruption on the nationwide stage, bringing disgrace to the state,” Vijayendra stated. He accused the Congress of deceptive the general public with false fees in opposition to the Bommai-led BJP, solely to be uncovered now by certainly one of their very own.
“It was falsely accused and defamed as a 40 per cent fee authorities,” Vijayendra claimed. “With such propaganda, you misled the individuals and painted yourselves as the one sincere ones. Now, that masks has fallen,” he added.
The JD(S) was fast to pile on.
“The chief minister’s financial adviser himself has claimed that Karnataka is primary in corruption—I thank Rayareddy for calling out the rot within the ruling occasion,” stated JD(S) chief Nikhil Kumaraswamy. He additionally identified that Rayareddy had earlier flagged how the assure schemes have been affecting the state’s improvement.
In the meantime, the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee, set as much as probe the “40 per cent fee” fees in opposition to the earlier BJP authorities, submitted its interim report on March 12. It discovered no concrete proof to help the Contractors’ Affiliation’s allegations, although it admitted corruption exists within the tendering course of.
And now, the BJP’s self-goal…
The BJP’s ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’—launched in Mysuru on April 7—was meant to whip up public anger in opposition to the Congress authorities over value hikes and alleged mis-governance. However simply as BJP leaders started marching throughout districts slamming the state authorities, the Centre handed them a clumsy second.
Even because the Karnataka BJP rallied in opposition to value hikes on gas, milk, electrical energy, healthcare, and extra, the Union finance ministry hiked excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre. Home LPG cylinder costs have been additionally elevated by Rs 50.
The Congress discovered a possibility to retaliate., with deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar mocking the BJP’s marketing campaign: “Namaskar to all my BJP pals. You all are doing ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’. I congratulate you. However your individual BJP authorities on the Centre has hiked the value of petrol, diesel and fuel. So, your ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’ ought to go on with the BJP—it’s your occasion.”
He urged them—tongue firmly in cheek—to take their protests to Delhi. “Want you all the most effective to protest in opposition to your central management and remedy your issues.”
On April 3, Chief of Opposition R Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of “stealing by way of taxes” and Shivakumar of “stealing by way of commissions”. He additionally spoke of the elevated liquor costs, calling it an oblique tax to extract cash from alcohol lovers.
The Union ministry of petroleum later clarified that regardless of the excise obligation hike, retail costs of petrol and diesel wouldn’t change. “PSU Oil Advertising and marketing Firms have knowledgeable that there shall be no enhance,” it posted on X.
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri defended the LPG value hike, saying it might assist oil advertising and marketing firms get well worldwide losses. Common cylinders will now value Rs 1,028, with Ujjwala beneficiaries nonetheless getting them at Rs 553. A Rs 175 low cost applies to common customers, lowering their value to Rs 853.
Including to BJP’s awkwardness, its alliance companion JD(S) was conspicuously absent from the Jan Akrosh Yatra. They’ve determined to launch their very own marketing campaign in opposition to the Congress known as ‘Saakappa Saku’ (that means Sufficient Is Sufficient), which shall be launched on April 12 with Union minister HD Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil within the lead.
On not becoming a member of the BJP marketing campaign within the state, JD(S) MLC CB Suresh Babu defined that choices have been made shortly and there was no time to plan the JDS involvement. Insiders, nevertheless, stated it might have put Kumaraswamy in a spot. However Kumaraswamy performed down the difficulty, promising to kind a coordination committee with the BJP for smoother collaboration.
