Unlike ruling Congress, BJP paid for rural job scheme ads: Ashoka

Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Friday defended the BJP’s VB G-RAM G advertisement published in newspapers, stating that the party had borne the entire cost and that no public funds were used.

“The BJP paid for the advertisement from party funds. Not a single rupee has come from the Central government. But, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka is using taxpayers’ money for political advertisements,” alleged Ashoka, during a press meet in Bengaluru.

“Gandhiji is holding a stick because he is outraged by Congress’ misdemeanor and misuse of his name. Gandhiji stood for ahimsa and called for prohibition and stopping cow slaughter. He even asked for the Congress to be dissolved after Independence. Did they implement any of these?” he asked.

Stating the Congress had no moral right to talk about Gandhi, Ashoka said, “In the name of Gandhi, the country saw the Emergency and Bofors scam. All the central and state schemes should have been named after Gandhi or Ambedkar. But 470 schemes, buildings, airports and roads are named after Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi,” he said. 

Ashoka asked the Congress to introspect over their electoral setbacks. “Congress is a dead party that lacks leadership. Give up dynasty rule. Mallikarjun Kharge is only a namesake leader, Rahul is the LOP, Priyanka, the general secretary, and Sonia Gandhi is in the Congress Working Committee. The Gandhi family has spoilt the party,” claimed Ashok.

Dismissing Congress’ demand for ballot papers, Ashok said, “Rajiv Gandhi brought in EVMs. Now Congress has lost faith even in Rajiv Gandhi. People have accepted EVMs and courts have upheld them. Congress behaves like Tughlaq. The Election Commission conducts elections, not the BJP.”

Ashoka informed that the party’s GBA poll in-charge would hold meetings with MLAs, defeated candidates and office-bearers. “The government is fleecing Bengalureans through multiple taxes. We will win all five corporations. People will vote them out,” he asserted.