Ex-CM, ministers were jailed, yet 'chowkidaar' PM Modi talks of fighting corruption: Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: As the campaign trail heats up in poll-bound Karnataka, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "zero tolerance of corruption" policy was nothing but empty election rhetoric.

"Back in 2014, PM used to say that he wants to be the 'chowkidaar' (watchman) of the nation. One of his former CMs and four ministers have served time in jail, and yet the 'chowkidaar' tells the country that he will fight against corruption," Rahul said at a public meeting in Bagalkote, according to ANI.



The Gandhi scion has been liberally using the "chowkidaar" jibe against the Prime Minister in light of the recent cases of bank fraud. Rahul has accused the Modi government of "looking the other way" while those guilty of financial irregularities, like diamantaire Nirav Modi and liquor baron Vijay Mallya, fled the country.

Yesterday, the Congress leader had mocked PM Modi's flagship monetary scheme as "Jan Dhan Loot Yojana", charging that the government is complicit in the looting of public money.



Rahul claimed that he Congress government in Karnataka has run a clean administration in the last five years, as opposed to the erstwhile BJP regime which had been mired in corruption and controversy.

"Following the teachings of Basavanna, our party has given a clean administration over the last five years in Karnataka. We have developed rapidly and did not make any fake promises," he said at a rally in Belagavi district yesterday.

Continuing his attack, Rahul said, "The next time Prime Minister Modi comes to Karnataka, ask him if he believes in Basavanna's policy of 'practice what you preach'."

"PM comes and gives long speeches and mentions Basavanna in his address. Prime Minister Modi said that 15 lakhs will be deposited in the banks. Did he even manage to deposit 10 rupees in any account," he asked.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah also hit out at PM Modi, calling him "the great facilitator of corruption", while asserting that he had headed an honest government since coming to power in 2013.

Rahul is on a three-day visit to Karnataka, where assembly polls are expected to be held in April-May this year.

The ruling Congress is facing a tough challenge from the BJP in Karnataka, which is looking to make a come back in the southern state after a hiatus of five years.