Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 20: BJP national president Amit Shah on Tuesday February 20 reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that the Congress-led Karnataka government was the 'most corrupt' government in the nation and that chief minister Siddaramaiah the 'most corrupt' of all CMs.
Addressing a press meet at a hotel in Suratkal here during his visit to the coastal region ahead of the Assembly elections, Amit Shah said, "Karnataka government is one of the most corrupt governments in the nation and Siddaramaiah the most corrupt among chief ministers. People are waiting to throw out the Congress government and elect the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls. There is no doubt that BJP will win the elections by a huge margin under the leadership of BJP state president Yeddyurappa."
In a veiled reference to the assault on a man by Youth Congress leader Mohammed Nalapad, who is also the son of Congress MLA N A Haris, the BJP supremo said, "Congress is doing goonda governance. We will change that to good governance.
"A total of 22 Hindu activists and BJP followers have been killed in the state so far, but the government did nothing to protect their lives and give justice to their families. I have never in my life seen such political and ideological victimization as done by the Congress government. Even those facing murder charges are in the state cabinet. People of the state are fed up with the three Ms - Murder, mafia ministers.
"The state government issued an order to withdraw cases against minorities. I do not know what message Siddaramaiah wants to give the PFI and the SDPI. I too have experience of handling the home ministry and I can say that the order issued by the government department is completely unconstitutional," he said.
On the issue of banning PFI and SDPI, he said, "There is a certain process to issue a ban. Let the state government at least stop withdrawing cases against them. Such actions demoralise the police. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is there to protect the nation, not to solve cases in the state."
He also denied reports that Vidhwath, who was assaulted by Mohammed Nalapad and his friends in Bengaluru, was a BJP worker. "Vidhwath is not a BJP worker. This is nothing but misinformation. But I am thankful to the media for keeping this issue alive and debating on it despite fear of goondagiri from the MLA's son."
Attacking the Congress further, he said, "When the UPA was in power, Rs 88,583 crore for released for development under the 12th Finance Commission. But after the BJP came to power, we released Rs 2,19,506 crore under the 14th Finance Commission."
On the Nirav Modi scam and the diamantaire's photograph with PM Modi at Davos, Amit Shah said, "To assume that PM Modi has any connection with Nirav Modi just because of a photograph is laughable. It is condemnable that Nirav Modi is being linked to the PM. We are taking strict action in the case. Already over Rs 5,000 crore has been seized in raids," he said.
Speaking about BJP's preparations for the upcoming elections, Amit Shah said, "BJP is strengthening itself and getting ready to face the elections. We are holding Navashakti conventions of BJP workers in all Assembly constituencies of the state. I have already visited four constituencies. Through these conventions, even party leaders are able to interact with the workers and the public. Tomorrow (Wednesday February 21, we will hold meetings with the polling centre workers."
Union minister Sadananda Gowda, BJP national general secretary Muralidhar Rao, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, MLA C T Ravi, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and others were present.