As Karnataka is crucial for the Congress in the South, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi aggressively took on the BJP on corruption. Rahul visited the State for second time in a month apart from a recent visit of AICC president Sonia Gandhi.
Addressing the “Bharat Nirman” rally in Belgaum in Karnataka on Saturday Rahul Gandhi came down heavily on Opposition BJP and its PM candidate Narendra Modi. He accused the BJP and Modi of blocking six crucial anti-graft Bills in Parliament. He also said the BJP was ignoring corruption selectively in States ruled by them.
He said, “Their leader is travelling across India and talking about eradicating corruption. But does he see their leaders in Karnataka indulging in corruption. He doesn’t see that their party’s then CM was jailed on corruption charges. He doesn’t even see 16 of their Ministers in Karnataka had to resign on graft issue.”
“He (Modi) does not see corruption in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. In Karnataka, you people removed BJP from power due to corruption. Thereafter, the then CM has again come back to BJP, but their leaders ignore this,” he said.
Gandhi said BJP leaders see corruption in only Congress-ruled States, adding, “They don’t see it anywhere else.”
“Even if corruption takes place in Gujarat, they ignore it,” he said taking a dig at Modi. “Wherever they do not have their Governments, they see corruption taking place.” Gandhi also attacked BJP for “blocking” passage of six anti-graft Bills.”
He said, “Who is standing against those BillsIJ We want to pass them. We are being stopped in Parliament. Who is stopping itIJ BJP is stopping it. They don’t allow functioning of Parliament.”
Congress vice-president attacked BJP, which has made corruption its main weapon of attack against the UPA Government. Gandhi said, “They (BJP) only talk, we bring progress.”
Rahul Gandhi also spoke about RTI and claimed that Congress Government implemented it for the people.
“Who brought RTIIJ Who gave power to your handsIJ Congress party did it. Whatever was happening behind closed doors is getting known to you because of RTI. Who brought the lokpal BillIJ BJP did not bring it. Congress brought it,” he said. Rahul Gandhi was also critical of Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with the IT leaders over a video conference and said it was the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress Chief Minister SM Krishna created an IT revolution which was mocked by the BJP.