‘BJP govt systemised graft in K’taka’

Mangaluru: Prithviraj Chavan, former chief minister of Maharashtra, accused the BJP government in Karnataka of systemising corruption. Chavan lashed out at the BJP, referring to the allegations of 40% commission in government works in Karnataka and said, “It is the worst and most corrupt government in the country.” Addressing media persons at the District Congress Committee office here on Friday, Chavan asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah the reason for making Basavaraj Bommai the chief minister of Karnataka. “Was it because of his ability to recover money that was spent on toppling the coalition government in Karnataka? A BJP leader had claimed that the post of chief minister is valued at Rs 2,500 crore,” Chavan said. Inviting the BJP for an open discussion on corruption charges, Chavan said, “Despite contractors association, association of educational institutions and mutts writing to the PMO on the level of corruption, the Prime Minister failed to act. He failed to fulfil his promise of ‘na khaunga, na khane dunga.’ Even after the corruption in the BJP government was exposed, Modi remained silent. Instead of speaking about corruption, the Prime Minister is engaged in shouting the slogan ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ in Karnataka, and thereby trying to divert people’s attention. They have lost confidence about their victory in Karnataka,” he said.Chavan said, “The results of Karnataka elections will have an impact on polls in other states, and also general elections in 2024. The election will decide whether the country will continue to be under democracy.” Further, he noted that since 1994, the vote share of the Congress has increased in all the elections. To a query on a ban on the Bajrang Dal reference in the Congress manifesto, Chavan said that the Congress will not tolerate hate speech, and act against those who take the law into their hands. “The Congress will recommend to the Union government to seek a ban on those organisations that take law into their own hands,” he said.