Karnataka Congress Launches Janandolana to Counter BJP-JDS Padayatra
Congress begins 'Janandolana' public meetings to counter BJP-JDS padayatra, challenging opposition on alleged scams during their rule in Karnataka
Bengaluru: A day before Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal Secular (JDS) start their weeklong padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru city demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over sacams in Mysore Urban Development Authority, fraudulent transactions in the bank accounts of Valmiki Corporation, the Congress party on Friday embarked upon ‘Janandolana’ to hold series of public meetings starting from Bidadi near Bengaluru seeking replies from BJP-JDS on alleged scams during their reign over the State.
Speaking at the public meeting to counter the padayatra of BJP-JDS, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar wanted the BJP-JDS leaders to come out with replies on alleged Rs 87 crore scam in Bhovi Corporation and Rs 47 crore scam in Agri Marketing Committees and told BJP-JDS leaders that they have a week’s time to come out with replies in a week’s time or else the Congress leaders will come out with answers of the scams/corruption during BJP tenure.
He pointed out former BJP MLC Veeraiah is behind the bars accused in Rs 47 crore scam in Devaraj Urs Truck Terminal Corporation and questioned “Why BJP-JDS leaders not fighting against these alleged corruption in the State?’
“We have a long list of scams/corruption alleged to have taken place during the rule of BJP?” he said and asked BJP leaders-R. Ashok, C.T. Ravi, Vijayendra and Union Minister of Heavy Industries and State JDS president H.D. Kumaraswamy to reply on the scams.
To Kumaraswamy, Shivakumar said “I am aware of details submitted by you to the Union Minister on the list of assets owned by me and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. I’m ready to answer it appropriately.”
In turn, he questioned Kumaraswamy “How much did your father (former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda) owned when he first fought the Assembly election from Ramnagar?” and “What is the extent of lands owned by your family now?”
Continuing, he challenged Kumaraswamy to maintain ‘transparency’ in public life and tell the people of the State on agricultural activities and businesses and stated “Your father did not have any lands (initially in politics) and questioned “How come now you own vast tracts of lands?”
He asked Kumaraswamy to make it public on lands owned by his family in Kumbalgodu about 250 acres, Dodda Gubbi and Chikka Gubbi, Yelahanka and surrounding areas, Hassan, Nelamangala among other places. “What’s the value of the lands owned by your family,” asked Shivakumar.
Shivakumar reminded Kumaraswamy of his assurance get approval from Union Government for the State Government proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across River Cauvery in Kanakapura taluk of Bengaluru South district and pointed out “There was no mention of Mekedatu in the latest Union budget?”