Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has challenged the Congress leaders to come to a common platform to discuss the corruption and scandals of BJP representatives.
   Speaking to media persons after visiting Sri Somanatha temple at Someshwara near Ullal and addressing a separate press conference on Tuesday, he said the Congress leaders should have a face-to-face with the BJP leaders on a common forum where the achievements of both the parties could be reviewed thoroughly.
   “The Congress members are jealous of the achievements of the coalition government done in 15 months, which they could not do in their 60 years of rule. We were on the Opposition side for 30 years; why should they feel so irritated to sit there for two years?” he ventured.
   Reacting to the statement of KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the DyCM said Congress was synonymous with corruption but not BJP. “They do not have the moral power to speak on corruption and misappropriations. Let them speak with proofs,” he challenged.
   The coalition government has reserved Rs 150 crore for minorities development and Rs 3,000 crore for the welfare of SCs and STs, which were Rs 30 crore and Rs 750 crore respectively during the Congress rule, he noted.
   Garibi Hatao was mere a glossy slogan of Congress but it is the BJP-JD(S) coalition that implemented the vision in real terms. The government has been ready to bear the Rs 5,950 crore additional burden incurred out of loans waiver, arrack and lottery ban, Mr Yediyurappa stated.
Yedi mum on nurse
   Mr Yediyurappa has denied to comment upon the ongoing discussions regarding the Renukacharya-Jayalakshmi controversy.
   “State Women’s Commission and Police are probing into the issue. We will act on the basis of their reports. Culprits will obviously be punished. I cannot comment on the case further,” he told press persons at Someshwar near Ullal here on Tuesday, who had been for the electioneering of Ullal by-poll.
Record revenue
  Addressing a separate press conference in the evening, Mr Yediyurappa said the State government has earned Rs 486 crore additional revenue in April, in comparison to the last year.
   Out of various sources, the government had earned Rs 1,572 crore revenue in April 2006, while it has reached Rs 2,058 crore in April 2007, he said, in reaction to the allegation of the Congress that the financial management of the government is not in the right path.
Internal reservation
   Mr Yediyurappa said the government was committed in implementing internal reservation.
   “The vision of JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda is absolutely proper and the coalition partners have no differences of opinion in implementing his idea,” he stated.