Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has lashed out against Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministerial candidate, BS Yeddyurappa, on Twitter following the latter telling the media that he had forgiven Janardhana Reddy in the interest of the state.
Yeddyurappa had recently said, “Not only Reddy, many have troubled me when I was CM. I've forgotten it and pardoned them all in the interest of the state.” His words were in reference to when the mining baron, who was then the Union Minister of Tourism, took a bunch of MLAs to different resorts in a bid to topple the BS Yeddyurappa government due to infighting.
However, the attempted coup failed, and the Yeddyurappa government passed the floor test.
His words came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave tickets to two of the three Reddy brothers, and many of their aides, including B Sriramulu, Sanna Pakirappa and TH Suresh.
Siddaramaiah, on Twitter, criticised Yeddyurappa for forgiving Janardhana Reddy, asking how could he support someone who had looted Kannadigas’ wealth in ‘the interest of the state’?
Very interesting! @BSYBJP has pardoned Reddy in interest of state
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 27, 2018
1 Which interest of Karnataka is served by pardoning someone who looted thousands of crores of Kannadigas’ wealth?
2 Is it upto you to pardon him?
3 Did you ask PM Modi to direct CBI to formalise the ‘pardon’? pic.twitter.com/50D759dNRr
Following this, Rahul Gandhi mounted an attack on Narendra Modi, saying he was lying about standing against corruption, while giving tickets to those who had been to jail.
When in power, Yeddyurappa and Reddy Brothers looted Karnataka. Our Govt. brought them to justice.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 25, 2018
Now Mr Modi is trying to take 8 of them from jail, into the Vidhan Sabha.
This is an insult to every honest citizen, to Karnataka and to the spirit of Basavanna.
Janardhana Reddy has campaigned for the BJP in this polls, even sharing a dais with Yeddyurappa, and Congress has used this to taunt the party on various occasions.
PM Modi talks about fighting corruption but he is supporting the entire Reddy family in Karnataka.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 26, 2018
He has changed the name of the CBI to 'Central Bureau of illegal Mining': @RahulGandhi, Congress President
"Modi Govt comes to the rescue of ‘Bellary Gang’
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 24, 2018
‘No one stole Iron-ore’ worth Rs 35,000 Crore!
Kannadiga’s betrayed by BJP & a ‘Puppet CBI’ to protect ‘Gani-Dhani’": @rssurjewala #MODIfiedReddyBros pic.twitter.com/a2DhvdZ8Cb
While PM Modi continues spinning jumlas to a global audience; in Karnataka, BJP's Mining Mafia a.k.a the Bellary Reddy Brothers Gang is back with a Bang
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 24, 2018
BJP has given MLA tickets to the same set of scamsters who looted Karnataka.#MODIfiedReddyBros pic.twitter.com/ql2dEndsO0
Modi has remained tight-lipped about these attacks, while BJP National President Amit Shah cancelled his tour to Ballari district to allegedly avoid sharing the dais with the Reddy brother.