BJP's National President Amit Shah attacked the Congress-led Karnataka state government as he flagged off the party's statewide 75-day rally in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday, at a huge gathering of its leaders and cadres.
Shah said, “This Parivartan Yatre is not to change the CM or the government or the ministers. This yatra is to change the situation of Karnataka. We want to change the condition of the youth, the failure of law and order in Karnataka. We will uproot the Siddaramaiah government under the guidance of Yeddyurappa and Narendra Modi."
Alleging corruption on part of the current ruling dispensation, Shah said, "One after another, ministers are getting caught in corruption scandals. Be it in steel flyover in Bengaluru or in weakening the Lokayukta or even transfer of officials, there is corruption.”
Shah added, “There has been no development in Karnataka in the past five years. Look at the Modi government, he wants to help all states. But in Karnataka government, no matter how much funds PM Modi sends, we don't know where it is going.”
CM Siddaramaiah responded cheekily to Shah’s allegations saying, “Parivarthana (change) should happen in the BJP” and said, “The BJP is trying to atone for its misdeeds by conducting their rally.”
The CM, while addressing reporters at the Vidhana Soudha, claimed that people of Karnataka want to bring back the Congress government.
Countering the corruption allegation, the CM said, “The people had given the BJP one chance and they indulged in corruption and illegal activities. The people have not forgotten their betrayal.”
"Amit Shah and Yeddyurappa are both leaders who have gone to prison. What Parivarthan will they bring? Corruption and looting the state coffers was the only achievement of the BJP,” the Chief Minister added.
Siddaramaiah also attacked the BJP for not waiving off farmer loans in central government banks and criticised implementation of GST and demonetisation.
“Ache Din (Good days) have come only for Ambani, Adani, Amit Shah and his son. They have not created more jobs as promised. The people are still facing the effects of note ban and the GST issue has not yet been resolved. These are the BJP's achievements,” Siddaramaiah said.