It’s a tit-for-tat time in Karnataka politics. Videos, counter-videos, and booklets accusing each other of corrupt practices and challenging one another to public debates on these allegations have become the trend.
As the BJP-JD(S) coalition concluded its 135 km-long padayatra, called “Mysuru Chalo”, protesting against the “corrupt” Congress government and demanding the resignation of Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged MUDA scam, the ruling party decided to counter these accusations in the same manner—an eye for an eye.
During a public meeting as part of its Janandolana on Friday, the Congress challenged the BJP-JD(S) coalition’s padayatra. Interestingly, the BJP’s public meeting, culminating in its seven-day padayatra, was held at the exact same venue as the Congress’s meeting—just a day apart.
At the Congress’s public meeting, the party played videos of senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) accusing each other and allegedly exposing the split within the alliance, including the JD(S)’s reluctance to join the padayatra initially but agreeing at the last minute under duress. The BJP countered with more videos of Congress leaders, including one of Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra, which it claims was related to a “cash for posting” scam. The BJP also released videos of Congress leaders like BK Hariprasad criticising Siddaramaiah, as well as senior leaders discussing money at a Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) conference. Additionally, the BJP showcased snippets of a documentary on deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, highlighting his time in jail and alleged rise to power through illegal means.
Siddaramaiah, warning BS Yediyurappa that he lacked the moral standing to point fingers as he himself was facing a POCSO case and had gone to jail for corruption, faced a sharp retort from the octogenarian BJP leader and parliamentary board member.
“You have made accusations against me, Mr Siddaramaiah. I will not rest until I send you and your team packing home. You claim there is not a black spot on you, but whoever sees you can only see black spots all over. You have been looting the people of this state, and I will not allow it. If you have the guts, come, let’s debate. I will travel the length and breadth of the state and not rest until I see you sent home. I am 82 years old, but I still have the strength to fight this fight, and I will do so till my last breath,” said Yediyurappa, who was accused by the Congress of being charged in a POCSO case, apart from corruption cases.
Yediyurappa added that the Congress may have come to power using its “scheming ways and fooling people”, but, he said, after 16 months of governance, the people of Karnataka have realised that they were deceived and will not vote the party to power again.
“If elections are held today in Karnataka, I guarantee you that the BJP-JD(S) combine will win more than 130-140 seats,” said Yediyurappa to cheering crowds.
He also attacked Shivakumar, saying that while the deputy CM may be speaking out of turn today, his “sins” have been overflowing, and he will soon have to face the consequences.
“I am here to tell you, Shivakumar, your sins are overflowing. It won’t be long before something happens. You need to take care of your future; don’t worry about us,” the senior BJP leader said.
Both the BJP and Congress released booklets listing out scams during their respective periods of governance, accusing each other of looting the people of the state. The Congress released a book outlining the scams that the BJP and JD(S) are “involved in”. The BJP countered it with its version of alleged corruption the Congress has been indulging in, in its present as well as previous terms.
Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra, while addressing the meeting, said that the impression being given was that the padayatra was a personal attack on Siddaramaiah.
“This sustained campaign of ours is against the corrupt chief minister of Karnataka and his corrupt government. This fight is not against Siddaramaiah; it is our effort to fight for the rights of the 6.5 crore people of Karnataka who are suffering under the Congress rule,” said Vijayendra.
The state unit chief added that the BJP is not thirsty for power, but is choked with emotions, seeing how the people of Karnataka are being fooled and looted by a corrupt government.
“People have lost their homes, and farmers who feed you have been left without any compensation. You shed crocodile tears but do nothing for those who form the backbone of the state—farmers. Siddaramaiah ji, you claim Karnataka to be the role model for the rest of the country; is this the role model we should have? It’s shameful,” he added.
The Congress had said that it would expose the ill designs of the opposition BJP-JD(S) and show the people the scams they were involved in. Vijayendra challenged the Congress to bring out what it has and put it in front of the people of the state to decide. Defending his father, Yediyurappa, who Siddaramaiah had said should retire from active politics, Vijayendra claimed that the Congress feared the senior BJP leader even at the age of 82.
Asking Siddaramaiah to take back his statements asking Yediyurappa to retire from politics, Vijayendra said his father would be with the people of the state till his last breath.
“Even now, you are scared of Yediyurappa. For the past 15 years, you have been trying to finish off Yediyurappa politically. But that will not be possible. Till his dying breath, he will work and struggle for the people of this state. He made that promise to my mother and sticks by it,” he said, adding that 14 false FIRs were filed against his father based on a CAG report out of fear that Siddaramaiah might not become the CM a second time. That did not deter him from fighting back, said Vijayendra.
Union minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy also tore into the Congress, a former ally in the state. Having been at loggerheads with deputy CM Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy attacked him, calling him a man who had risen in the ranks of the Congress through unfair means.
Kumaraswamy took a swipe at Siddaramaiah for allegedly playing with the future of the people of Karnataka and looting them for personal gains. Seeking the immediate resignation of Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said that the 14 sites given to his family belonged to the government. Addressing how he was forced to join hands with the Congress at one point in his political career, he added that only the BJP and JD(S) could secure the future of the state and safeguard people from the “Congress loot”.
“DK Shivakumar, you claim that under your leadership the Congress won 135 seats and the JD(S) won only 19 seats under my leadership. What happened in the Lok Sabha elections? Why were you reduced to just eight seats? We know how they won the ninth seat; I will not comment about that,” Kumaraswamy said.
He once again targeted Shivakumar, who had in the Congress meeting said he would expose the 50 illegal land de-notifications that Kumaraswamy had done during his tenure as CM.
“He claims I had done 50 illegal de-notifications. Come, show me; I challenge you. There must be a limit to telling lies. Will you be able to prove any of it? It’s all false,” the union minister added.
Kumaraswamy said that the Congress on social media each day seeks his resignation.
“Why should I resign? Have I done any illegal land dealing like MUDA? Have I forcibly taken land from widows? I have four cases against me, and I am fighting them in court. Investigate as you want; I have no link, but the courts will give an answer,” he said.
“If I lay my eyes on Shivakumar, his political career will come to an end, and that is not too far in the future. I say this in the presence of Goddess Chamundeshwari,” the union minister told the assembled crowds.