Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 24: State president of JD(S), H D Kumaraswamy, has fired another salvo at BJP. In a fresh allegation, he has accused BJP of entering into a pact with former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy for payment of kickback amounting to Rs 500 crore for meeting expenses connected with the next assembly election.

Addressing a convention of his party organized on Thursday March 23 at Palace Ground here, he stated that Reddy is being given a clean chit in cases filed with the Enforcement Directorate and other central investigation agencies. He also said that the assets of Reddy seized by the agencies are being released back to him.

"The state government has allowed the report filed by the then Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde, about smuggling of iron ore through Belekeri port. The concerned is getting absolved of all cases of huge corruption which happened during the period BJP was in power," he explained.

The assembly election in the state is due next year. There have been accusation of parties trying to fill their coffers for fighting the election with the help of people with questionable integrity. The allegation now made by Kumaraswmay is likely to give rise to debate in political circles. The allegation now levelled also may be linked to the charges made by the then minister, Janardhana Reddy, about ten years back charging the then chief minister, Kumaraswamy, of demanding a bribe of Rs 150 crore.

Kumaraswamy chose to throw barbs at Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, BJP, and B S Yeddyurappa. He accused Modi of working like Pied Piper in selling dreams to people in exchange for votes. He warned people of getting disillusioned if they follow Modi. He asked the youth to find for themselves how many jobs Modi has created, after promising two and half years back to create 25 crore new jobs. He asked people not to fall prey to false promises and catchy phrases.