Rahul terms BJP govt most corrupt

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the State, terming it the most corrupt in the country.

He also accused the BJP of tarnishing Karnataka’s image.

Rahul Gandhi kicked off his poll campaigning for the May 5 Assembly elections addressing three huge rallies in Bagalkot, Bijapur and Raichur districts in North Karnataka.

Braving the scorching sun, hundreds of people attended the rallies at Ilkal in the Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district and Sindhanur in Raichur district.

“To restore the State’s honour, bring back the Congress to power,” he appealed to voters in Bijapur.

Rahul said people should march hand in hand with the Congress for a stable and clean government. If the Congress returned to power, it would ensure an annual allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for the next five years for completing pending irrigation projects in the Krishna basin.

To create employment opportunities,  steel plants would be established in the iron ore-rich Bellary district. These units could create job opportunities for local youth and lead to the economic development of the region, he said.

Rahul said the BJP came to power with the support of the Reddy brothers of Bellary. And the BJP “pledged” the government to the brothers. Around 40 legislators involved in illegal mining became a part of the government and saw to it that rules were changed to suit their needs.

“In the past five years, they caused losses worth several crores to the State exchequer by indulging in illegal mining and export of iron ore,” he added.

Congress candidates in Bagalkot, Bijapur, Raichur, Koppal and Bellary districts attended the rallies.

AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka affairs Madhusudhan Mistry, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge were present.