MYSURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday challenged PM Modi to prove his allegations of corruption against him and claimed he would retire from politics if the PM provided evidence that even one rupee was misused by the govt. If not, would Modi step down as Prime Minister, Siddaramaiah questioned.
Modi has been attacking both Siddaramaiah and the Congress govt in Karnataka by spreading lies during election rallies that the Congress govt collected Rs 700 crores from the Excise Department to fund the election. Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru there should be a limit to lying.
The BJP is accusing the Congress govt of corruption, but there is extensive evidence of widespread corruption during the BJP govt's tenure. A report by the retired Justice D'Cunha Commission was submitted regarding the misdeeds of the BJP govt during the Covid period. Despite PPE kits being available for Rs 330, they were purchased at a higher rate of Rs 2140.
What does the PM have to say about this? “There is no corruption in our govt, nor will there be,” CM Siddaramaiah stated.
Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that the Congress party will win all three assembly segments that went to polls in Karnataka on Wednesday.
Regarding the row over the lifting of the night traffic ban via Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the CM said there is no such proposal, nor has the matter been discussed at the govt level. To a query, Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t have information about deputy CM DK Shivakumar's statement regarding this. Ask the DCM.”
About reinducting former minister B Nagendra into the cabinet, Siddaramaiah said Nagendra’s supporters requested him in this regard, and he informed them that the matter would be discussed after the byelections in the state.
Responding to the ED probe on the alleged MUDA scam, the CM said the ED is conducting a probe according to the law, and they will not oppose it in any way. He said the agency is probing false charges.
When asked about minister Zameer Ahmed’s statement against former CM HD Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah questioned how appropriate it is for former PM Deve Gowda to say that 'we will break Siddaramaiah's arrogance.' Is it right to say such things to a Chief Minister? Zameer Ahmed and Kumaraswamy were once close, but he is not aware of their current relationship.
Responding to the BJP's criticism regarding reservation for Muslims in govt contracts, he said there is a demand for reservations for Muslims as well. However, no decision has been made on this. The BJP has never wished for peace and brotherhood in society but to create tension with such issues, he said.