Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 10: The political tussle between the BJP and Congress in Karnataka intensified on Thursday following remarks made by MLA and chief minister’s economic advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy, where he allegedly described Karnataka as the ‘number one state in corruption’.
Rayareddy, who was speaking at an interaction organised by the Regional Imbalance Redressal Committee in Koppal, had stated that irrespective of which party was in power, rampant corruption persisted, and that Karnataka ranked first in corruption.
However, amid the controversy that followed, Rayareddy clarified that his comments were misrepresented. "I did not state that Karnataka is number one in corruption. I only said that poor quality of works is tarnishing the state's image," he maintained.
The BJP, nevertheless, seized the opportunity to mount an attack on the Congress government.
Leader of the opposition R Ashoka alleged that Rayareddy’s statement was a reflection of the Congress party’s governance model. "Basavaraj Rayareddy, who had earlier admitted that the guarantee schemes have ruined the state's economy, has now revealed that Karnataka is number one in corruption. This is the Congress model — loot the people ‘Khatakhat, Khatakhat’," Ashoka said.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, speaking in Mangaluru, said Rayareddy had simply spoken the truth. "Rayareddy is known for his straightforwardness. After scams like the Valmiki Corporation scam and the MUDA scam, even he has been disillusioned. There is no money left for development," Vijayendra charged.
He further stated that Karnataka, which had once ranked second in development after Gujarat during BJP rule, had now, under Congress governance, climbed to the top spot for corruption — a distinction he sarcastically credited to chief minister Siddaramaiah.
In his initial remarks at the Koppal interaction, Rayareddy had said that rampant corruption was affecting the quality of government work. "Buildings that earlier lasted 50 to 60 years are collapsing within 10 years of construction. Particularly in Kalyana Karnataka, corruption is far more rampant. With such large-scale corruption, how can regional imbalances be addressed?" he questioned.
Rayareddy further asserted that despite the chief minister’s statements on corruption, his personal opinion remained unchanged.
Following mounting criticism, Rayareddy reiterated on Thursday that he had not accused either the current or previous governments of corruption. "This is not a new opinion. I have said the same on the floor of the House and in meetings with the chief minister," he clarified.