Karnataka: Vijayendra Questions Khader’s ‘Clean Chit’ Remark On Nagendra

Speaking to reporters at Jangamara Kalgudi on the commencement of the 6th day of Padayatra, Vijayendra said the Rs 187 crore involved in the case should be returned before a clean chit is given.

“We have seen enough clean chits. We have also seen how clean chits were obtained under previous governments after the ACB was formed. People are no longer in a position to believe such claims,” Vijayendra said.

He also took a dig at Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over his recent appeal that he be called a ‘Prajasevaka’ (public servant) rather than ‘Nadina Dore,’ (ruler of the state). He questioned whether Shivakumar, who had remained in Bengaluru for nearly three months, would have come to North Karnataka had the BJP not launched its padayatra.

“Just wearing a suit and travelling in a helicopter does not make anyone a public servant,” he said.
“People will call you a public servant only when programmes reach them and schemes benefit the poor. What have you done for the poor?” he asked.

Taking another swipe at the Chief Minister, Vijayendra said it appeared that the two major ambitions of Shivakumar were the Bidadi township and the Kanakapura airport.

“It appears his calculation is that once these two projects are completed, it does not matter whether he remains Chief Minister or not,” he said sarcastically.

Vijayendra also accused the state government of reducing the number of BPL cards and depriving lakhs of poor people of their benefits. He questioned whether the government had any “humanity”, while alleging that drought relief had not been provided and that rural schools were facing a shortage of teachers and hospitals a shortage of doctors.