Yeddyurappa cruises into fresh row, visits drought-hit areas in Rs 1 crore SUV

Bengaluru: Imagine newly appointed BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa whizzing from one parched village to the other in north Karnataka, for a reality check in his Rs 1 crore Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, even as thirsty villagers drop their pots to watch in awe.

That’s the scene set to unfold in the drought affected districts with the former CM bent on making the ‘best use’ of the vehicle gifted to him by loyalist and former minister Murugesh Nirani. The car, registered in Bengaluru with registration number KA03 MY4545 in the name of Nirani Sugars Limited, is financed by HDFC Bank. The showroom price is Rs 84 lakh in India.

The ruling Congress, which has been left embarrassed by a series of scams including Mr Siddaramaiah’s Hublot watch controversy, was quick to seize the opportunity to hit back at the BJP. A campaign has started in social media on the subject with a post saying, ‘Yeddyurappa has been given a Rs 1 crore luxury car by ex-MLA Murugesh Nirani, whose sugar factory owes crores to farmers’.

‘Namma CM Siddu, Namma Sarkar’, the social media group, added, ‘Does Yeddyurappa really have any concern for farmers? Is this the way BJP and Yeddyurappa treat farmers?’

Congress spokesperson, Brijesh Kalappa too criticized Yeddyurappa for using a luxury car to travel across the state tweeting, “This is the fully loaded Toyota Prado which the ultra-honest B.S. Yeddyurappa bought for himself in order to travel across the state as BJP President. It's pocket change for him- just a little over a crore. These honest politicians are really living it up!! So what if a few thousand farmers kill themselves over the extent of drought in the state”.

However Yeddyurappa defended the use of the Prado. “The car was gifted by Murugesh Nirani, What is wrong in it, after I became the state president, he has given it to me to conduct the state tour”, the former CM defended.