From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 16: Next year’s crucial assembly poll battle in Karnataka is already getting hot. While local leaders from BJP, Congress and JD(S) were so far busy in slanging matches with each other, BJP National President Amit Shah and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had unleashed the fusillade during their recent visits to the State.
Now, it is the turn of AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K V Venugopal to challenge BJP for a public debate on the issue of corruption in the Government.
Venugopal has asked the BJP to fix the venue, the date and time for the debate, if it accepted the challenge for a public debate.
The AICC General Secretary, who chaired series of meetings of various wings of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) in Bengaluru on Saturday, said there was no substance in allegations made on corruption in the State Government by BJP National General Secretary in-charge of State Muralidhara Rao and added that he was ready for the debate with the BJP on corruption.
A few days ago, the State unit of the BJP has decided to prepare a “charge sheet” about “corruption scandals” of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and distribute it across the state.
Venugopal instructed leaders and the head of the media wing of the party to activate the social and digital media of the party to reach out to the public on various pro-poor policies implemented by the Government.
He told party leaders to not to refrain from issuing statements rebutting charges made by the BJP and JD(S) leaders on corruption in the government.
The Congress leader also said there was no difference of opinion between KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Both leaders would collectively work during the 2018 election and bring the party back to power, Venugopal said.
Dr Parameshwara too denied having any rift with Siddaramaiah.
Gauri killers will be nabbed in few days
On the murder of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, Venugopal said the killers would be nabbed in a few days.
The BJP leaders have no moral right to speak on killing of the journalist.
BJP leaders had not even attended the funeral ceremony Gauri Lankesh, he said.