Congress trying to damage image of PM, says Shettar

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar has alleged that, unable to digest the popularity of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in the country, the Congress was trying to spoil the image of Mr. Modi by spreading canards and stalling the proceedings in Parliament.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday on the eve of BJP national president Amit Shah’s visit to the region, Mr. Shettar said that the Congress, which could not garner enough seats to become the Opposition party, was now trying to prevent a democratically elected government from functioning.

He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who came to power promising a transparent government, had given the most corrupt government.

He alleged that since the Kempanna Commission had reportedly indicted Mr. Siddaramaiah in the report on Arkavati Layout scam, the State government had buried the report.

“The Congress government had wasted public money for conducting the caste census and then buried the report,” he said. However he declined to reply if his party, if voted to power, would disclose the findings of the caste census. He said it would be a decision to be taken by the State Cabinet after discussion.

Alleging that Congress was spreading canards that BJP was trying to do away with reservation, Mr. Joshi said that BJP would always stand for reservation and if anybody opposed reservation, then BJP would fight against them.

On the alleged involvement of a BJP MLA in Uttar Pradesh in the rape of a Dalit woman and the custodial death of her father, Mr. Joshi said that these were stray instances against which BJP would take stern action. But BJP would always protect the interests of the Dalits, he said.

Mr. Joshi took a dig at Mr. Siddaramaiah for his intention to contest from two places and said that the fear of losing had forced him to look for another constituency.

He, however, defended Mr. Modi’s contest from two places earlier saying that for political reasons he contested from two places.