From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Updated

Bengaluru, Feb 22: Taking umbrage at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s accusations against his Government as "10% Commission Rule," Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah retaliated by dubbing the NDA government headed by Modi as "90% corrupt."

In a no-holds-barred reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala for his address to the joint session of the State legislature, the Chief Minister on Thursday said "The Modi government is 90% corruption” and "my government (Congress) is free from all scams.”

Hitting out at Modi on his comment against the Congress government in the State as 10% commission Congress government, Siddaramaiah said there were no evidences to prove the Prime Minister’s charge.

"Where are documents? Let him come out with evidence," he asked.

Under the Indian Evidence Act, the burden lies on the person who made the allegations, the Chief Minister said and demanded: "Let the Prime Minister prove the charge against my government."

The Chief Minister termed the Modi government as "hit and run" rule and said the Prime Minister of the country cannot speak without any evidence.

Siddaramaiah said several ministers, including one who was Chief Minister and has now been made the State BJP President, went to jail during the previous BJP government in the State, he said.

However, there was no anti-incumbency against his government and expressed that he was confident of returning to power again after the 2018 elections.

Modi during the recent rally of the BJP in Bengaluru raked up the commission charge and urged people to elect the BJP in the upcoming state Assembly poll to have a "government with a mission."

The Prime Minister had repeated the charge at his Mysuru rally too and asked the people to choose a government of commission or with a mission.

On BJP President Amit Shah seeking accounts of funds released by the Centre and its utilisation in the State, Siddarmaiah said: "I am answerable to the people of Karnataka. I am answerable to the legislature of the State.”

"I wanted to make this statement outside, but I will make it in the house. The previous BJP government was most corrupt government in Karnataka and the present central government led by BJP at the centre is a 90 per cent commission government," he said.

Modi, in his Parivartana Yatre public rally in Bengaluru, had said the Congress government in Karnataka is at the exit gate, while calling Siddaramaiah rule a 10 per cent commission government.

The Prime Minister had also attacked Siddaramaiah government at a public rally in Mysuru on February 4 by accusing it of setting new records in corruption.

Reacting to Prime Minister's charges, Siddaramaiah said the BJP and its leaders have failed to prove their charges.

"As per law, whoever levels charges against anyone, should prove them. The BJP and its leaders here have been levelling corruption charges and calling my rule as 10 per cent commission government, but have failed to prove these charges against my government," he said.

The Chief Minister’s attacks against Modi and NDA rule in Delhi prompted BJP members to raise their voice and a heated exchange of words ensued between the two party members.

Amidst the din, Chief Minister continued his tirade against previous BJP government by saying his government does not need any lessons of clean governance from a party whose four ministers were imprisoned for corruption.

Firing yet another salvo at Modi over tainted businessmen, Nirav Modi, fleeing the country, Siddaramaiah alleged that the central government was looking the other way when billionaire jeweller used his clout with the Prime Minister to slip out of the country and steal Rs 11,000 crore, drawing comparison with the case of liquor baron Vijay Mallya and former IPL Chairman Lalith Modi.

"The Prime Minister had fooled the people by asking the people to make his Chowkidar and not Prime Minister and had claimed to be a Pradhan Sevak," the Chief Minister said and wanted to know what happened.

"Nirav Modi ran away with Rs 11,000 crore. Lalith Modi and Vijay Mallya also fled. What was the central government doing?" he questioned. "Was the Chowkidar sleeping," he wanted to know.

He also criticised BJP for calling his government as a non-performing government.

"If my government is non performing, how is it that the growth rate of the state stands at 8.5 % ," Siddaramaiah asked.

BJP Opposition Laeder Jagadish Shettar said the government was most corrupt governments in the country and alleged that ministers are owning many benami properties across the state. As the Chief Minister continued attacking the Modi government, BJP members staged a walkout.

Shettar also alleged that the Siddaramaiah government is trying to brush the Arkavathy layout scam.

BJP member Vishweshwar Hedge Kageri alleged that the Siddaramaiah government was getting desperate and hurling allegations of 90 % commission government against Modi's rule at the centre.