B Sriramulu is BJP's scapegoat: Ugrappa

Congress leader V S Ugrappa on Thursday termed MP B Sriramulu as BJP's scapegoat.

"There are about 10 crore people belonging to Valmiki community in the country. The BJP government did not make Sriramulu as a Central minister. The BJP forced him to contest from Badami and Molakalmuru only to ensure his defeat. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will win from both segments. Sriramulu will end up becoming a scapegoat," he told reporters.

"A Supreme Court judge has observed that the democracy in the country at present is in danger. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has surrendered to silence. The country is facing danger from the BJP and Modi," he charged.

B S Yeddyurappa is the only chief minister who was jailed in state's history. He had termed Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shetter as corrupt chief ministers. After he quit the BJP, he had termed the party as most corrupt. There were three chief ministers in the BJP's regime. All these people have come together and declared Yeddyurappa as a chief ministerial candidate, he charged.

Despite the Election Commission's directives, the BJP has continued to issue false advertisements, he expressed displeasure.

"Let them issue advertisements highlighting a chief minister and ministers who were jailed," he said.

Ugrappa said that there was a Congress party wave in the state.

"Despite Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's efforts, the BJP would face the defeat," he remarked.

Narendra Modi, H D Kumaraswamy and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda too contested from two constituencies, he said and added: "Adityanath should remember this before criticising Siddaramaiah for contesting from Chamundeshwari and Badami Assembly segments."

"The BJP won just 40 seats in the May 2013 Assembly elections. As per the RSS pre-poll survey, the party would win between 60 and 70 seats," he said.

"There was no understanding with the JD(S) candidate in Badami. Siddaramaiah never declared that he was an atheist," he claimed.

"Union Minister Ananth Kumar, Jagadish Shettar and Yeddyurappa are raking up Hublot watch issue as they are convinced of the BJP's defeat. The Assembly has been explained about the person who gifted the watch and tax paid for the gift in this regard," he said.