Mysuru: I-T raids a ploy to scare Congress workers, says Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed here on Friday that the IT raids on associates of Congress and JD(S) leaders in the state were a strategy to intimidate and stop their party workers from campaigning for their candidates this Lok Sabha poll.

“They could have some impact. But it is foolish to think they can win this way. There has to be a free and fair election. It is not right to create a fearful atmosphere. It will not bring any honour to Narendra Modi,” he said, speaking to reporters at the Mysuru airport on his arrival to participate in a party workers’ meeting of the Mysuru- Kodagu constituency.

On BJP’s argument that nobody had reason to fear the income tax raids if they had nothing to hide, he shot back, “It is not fear about the raids. My point is why do you choose to raid during elections and threaten and create a fearful atmosphere? Were such raids ever conducted during elections when the Congress was in power?”

Demanding to know why state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa’s house was not raided, he asked, “How was he ready to give Rs 25 crore to Rs 28 crore (to Congress MLAs)? Let them raid his and his sons’ houses. How many of Sriramulu’s associates did you raid? Why do they raid only our people?”

On whether Tumakuru sitting MP, Muddahanumegowda had been offered anything to ensure he withdraws his nomination to make way for JD(S) supremo, Deve Gowda, Mr Siddaramaiah said, “He did not have any demands. We have told him yes he was a sitting MP and deserved the ticket and there had been injustice. But we have assured him we will set things right later.”