Siddaramaiah government is themost corrupt: Narasimha Rao

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has been the most corrupt in Karnataka and it has failed on all fronts, said BJP national spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao. Addressing presspersons in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, Mr. Rao said that the Congress-led government has failed in tackling the problems on all fronts and stands in the top position in corruption. In the last five years, development activities have come to a standstill in the State.

3,781 farmer suicides

The State government has done nothing to stop farmers suicide; as many as 3,781 farmers have committed suicide in the last five years in the State. Of the 176 taluks, 160 were declared as drought-hit in 2016, for which the Central government released ₹ 5,500 crore. Where have all the funds gone? he asked.

‘Poor law and order’

The law and order situation in the State has collapsed. He accused Mr. Siddaramaiah of backing his Cabinet Ministers who were facing several charges and also audaciously accepting them into the Cabinet, instead of taking action against them. Mr. Rao said that the State has become a hotbed for criminal activities. It has witnessed 254 communal clashes in 2015, which is the highest ever in the country.

As many as 7,523 women were murdered and 3,857 sexual assaults have been reported during Mr. Siddaramaiah’s tenure. Even senior police officers were not safe under Mr. Siddaramaiah’s governance, he said and held the State government responsible for the death of Deputy Superintendent of Police M.K Ganapathi and Kallappa Handibag. He added that Bengaluru was the third “unsafe place” in the country.

Mr. Rao accused Mr. Siddaramaiah of supporting anti-social organisations such as the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and allowing them to flourish and encouraging communal clashes.

Referring to Mr. Siddaramaiah contesting from two seats, Chamundeshwari in Mysuru and Badami in Bagalkot, Mr. Rao said that the Chief Minister had sensed his defeat in Chamundeshwari and that had made him choose Badami constituency too. But the voters have decided to teach the Congress and Mr. Siddaramaiah a lesson in this election, he added.

To a question, Mr. Rao said that according religion tag for Lingayat is not an election issue. Mr. Siddaramaiah is supporting the cause only because he is afraid of losing the Assembly polls.