Protesting BJP calls Siddaramaiah govt the ‘most corrupt’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, August 23, 2017: BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, was in a combative mood when he said, “Four years ago, people had high hopes in the Congress government but now they have started regretting bringing it to power because of the frequent incidents of violence and hate politics.”

The District BJP heavyweight staged a protest on the 23rd of August outside the DC office, saying the Congress government under CM Siddaramaiah has been exposed in all sorts of scams, such as the Arkavathi Scam, sand mining scam and the Yethinahole project. He said that in the name of development, the ministers  were helping themselves to public funds earmarked for improving infrastructure. Focusing on the Yethinahole issue, Mr. Kateel said the budget had been extended to 30,000 crores and there is nothing to show for it. “This is how the Congress government makes money," he alleged.

Talking of the law and order situation, Mr. Kateel said that under the BJP, the Lokayukta had been given a lot of power but fearing the long arm of the law, the CM scrapped it and replaced it with the Anti-Corruption Bureau. “Siddaramaiah is protecting himself, and not protecting the interests of the people of the state.” he said. After ACB was introduced, the first case that hit the headlines was the Hublot watch controversy. Mr Kateel said  it was not investigated. “Recently, fake cases of illegal land denotification were registered against former CM Yeddyurappa. But have you (Siddaramaiah) ever investigated the cases which registered against Congress leaders?” he challenged.

In another outburst regarding law and order, the BJP spokesperson, Sulochana Bhat said that a number of ministers in the Congress government have been ‘tainted’ by scams, notably Laxmi Hebbalkar, Ramesh Jarkhiholi, H Y Meti and others. She claimed they were all under Congress protection and she suggested they should all be sacked from the cabinet.

Several other speakers took turns to highlight their pet peeves. Yogish Bhat felt that the congress was indulging in revenge politics and targeting some while protecting its own corrupt ministers. Padmanabha Kothary was confident the BJP would come back to power in the upcoming elections as people have lost faith in the current state government. Dr Bharath Shetty, Eshwar Kateel, Nagaraj Shetty and others were seen at the function.