Congress’s Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Bharat Jodi Yatra’ was in Karnataka recently. (file)
New Delhi:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated the allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka – citing reports of “cash gifts” to journalists – and also pulled up the prime minister for the party’s much-touted wordplay using payments app Paytm.
Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and PM Narendra Modi, he said in a tweet, “BJP government of ‘PayCM’ and ‘PayPM’ is for ‘double engine’ corruption across the country”.
“Before elections, ‘neither bribe will take, na jaane dunga’. After elections – will eat ‘40% commission’, then send bribes to Karnataka media in sweet boxes on Diwali.” Rahul Gandhi tweeted, in Hindi, quoting PM Modi “I will not eat, I will not eat” promise.
Before the election – eat, don’t eat.
After the election – put ‘40%’, then send the midi to the media in the box of the cutie on the wall.
‘PayCM’ and ‘PayPm’ youth government, ‘double’ across the country.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 29 October 2022
The Congress has alleged – as have other parties and groups – that the Karnataka government takes a “40 per cent cut” in awarding contracts.
The latest controversy comes after allegations that an official of Chief Minister Bommai’s office gave “cash gifts” ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Cans of sweets to some journalists on Diwali. Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry.
The BJP has said the allegation is “far from the truth”, and the Congress is getting desperate ahead of next year’s state elections.
Three of the more than 10 journalists who reportedly received the boxes confirmed that the cash had been delivered; Two of them said they have given the money back to the CMO a report in news minutes,
An activist group has filed a complaint with the Karnataka Lokayukta, the anti-corruption Lokayukta, against Basavaraj Bommai’s media advisor for allegedly trying to bribe journalists.
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