Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 12: Addressing a press conference here on Saturday November 11, former chief minister of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy, charged the state government of retaining its checkposts even after the uniform GST system was introduced, with the aim of collecting thousands of crores of rupees for funding the next election with the help of rowdy elements.

The press conference was arranged at the party office, J P Bhavan.

Kumaraswamy said that unlike other states, Karnataka government has retained all the checkposts including the ones standing at the state's border. He said that each of these checkposts are manned by an inspector and four private goondas, who force people in vehicles to cough up money. "The government is collecting Rs 200 crore every month in this fashion," he claimed.

"Can one believe that chief minster, Siddaramaiah, as well as home and transport ministers, are not aware of this open loot? What about Anti Corruption Bureau and state intelligence? We hereby serve an ultimatum to the government to close down these checkposts and stop harassment by ruffians immediately. If the needful is not done within15 days, I will raid these checkposts along with party workers and stop this menace," he warned. He said that over Rs 30 lac is being collected as donation forcibly through each of these checkposts everyday.

Chiding Siddaramiaah for posing himself as the most honest politician around, he said that the word, 'fake' described the chief minister well. He also pointed out that Siddaramaiah, who takes pride in defining himself as a socialist, wears shoes costing anywhere between Rs 50,000 and 70,000. "He is the most hypocritical leader one can find, whereas he brands opposition leaders as liars and fakes," he said.

JD(S) has decided to occupy more space in social media through initiatives like going live on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Cloud Sound and Pinterest. A team will accompany Kmaraswamy all through his 'Vikasa Parva' tour programme and keep uploading reports, video clips, photos etc on social websites besides providing report and video to media. A new attempt named 'common man click' is being introduced through which people can give a missed call on cellphones and get news reports instantly.