Finding no real ammunition to target the ruling Congress party in Karnataka with, BJP state president, B.S. Yeddyurappa has fallen back on threats to reveal so-called scandals involving its cabinet ministers.
The former Chief Minister, who went to jail for corruption while in office and has no moral right to say any of this, is now claiming that CBI investigations will be the downfall of Congress ministers and cause huge embarrassment to the government.
How has he managed to procure such information about agencies like the CBI and Income Tax department? I have all respect for organisations like the CBI, I-T department, Enforcement Directorate and the Reserve Bank of India, but they are functioning today like puppets of the Modi government and are being used as tools to destabilise states ruled by the Congress party.
Otherwise, why are no big raids being carried out in states ruled by the BJP like Gujarat or Maharashtra? Is there no corruption in these states ? It’s clear the BJP is trying to destabilise Congress governments in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh besides Karnataka and playing politics in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
I agree there is corruption in all political parties. But we don’t support corruption and are fighting it. The Congress party will take action against its own politicians who are guilty and against whom charges have been proved.
As for the sex scandal involving former excise minister, H Y Meti, it’s a personal issue and the Congress party has nothing to do with it. Also, he has already resigned. Mr K.J. George had also resigned on moral grounds when there were charges against him. He was reinducted after he was absolved of them.
But BJP leaders like K S Eshwarappa, Krishnaiah Shetty, Ramachandra Gowda, and the Reddy brothers continued to remain in office during the BJP government in the state when there were charges against them.
As the state BJP has found nothing to make a big deal of during the three-and-a- half years of the Congress government in Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa is trying to be sensational by saying he will reveal scandals involving its ministers.
Development -wise we have given our best in all sectors. The progress of a state should be measured by the development it has seen under a government and not on the basis of baseless allegations made by political opponents like Mr Yeddyurappa.
Although all opposition leaders cried foul over the death of IAS officer, D.K. Ravi, the CBI ultimately confirmed that it was suicide and not murder. And now BJP leaders are alleging that Mr Roshan Baig is involved in the recent death of RSS activist, Rudresh. If they have evidence against Mr Baig or any other Congress leader, why aren't they coming out with it, instead of simply making baseless allegations?
Are agencies like the CBI and I-T department collecting information to be leaked to their masters’ advantage? One must remember that the last BJP government in the state was ousted owing to rampant corruption, poor performance and internal bickering in the party.
But the CBI gave Mr Yeddyurappa a clean chit owing to pressure from the Union government and the acquittal does not prove his innocence. It’s time agencies like the CBI and I-T department did their jobs instead of selectively carrying out raids on the BJP's political opponents in the country. I am ready for an open discussion on the development that has taken place in the state under our government.
The writer is the KPCC working president
