Cong launches blistering attack on BSY

DHNS

• ‘A legal encounter’ awaits CM, party’s leaders say at the rally

Bangalore, 30 January 2011: The State Congress on Sunday upped its ante against the “misdeeds” of the State government by organising a huge rally in the heart of Bangalore and pledging that it would continue its political campaign till the ruling BJP is dislodged from power.

 

The State Congress top brass, four Union Ministers from the state, party legislators and scores of local leaders converged at the well-attended rally to reaffirm their allegations that the B S Yeddyurappa government was immersed in rampant corruption, land scams, favouritism and had neglected development.

 

With a sizeable crowd turning out at the Jakkarayanakere Grounds in Sheshadripuram to attend the “Nada Rakshana” rally, the party took the opportunity to indulge is some muscle-flexing.

 

Speaking from the mammoth dais with seating arrangements for more than 200 people, the Congress leaders announced that “it was just a matter of time before the BJP government would collapse under the weight of its corrupt activities”.

 

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa bore the brunt of the attack with a section of Congress leaders calling him names, sometimes addressing him in the singular and branding him as the “most corrupt chief minister of all times”. 

 

Donning a Gandhi cap, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President  G Parameshwara set the tone for the rally by stating, “Yeddyurappa, you have been surrounded by the Governor, High Court and Lokayukta. You cannot escape. If you try to run away there will be a legal encounter. Beware!”

 

The party will organise similar rallies on February 10 at Hubli, on February 13 at Gulbarga and February 20 at Mysore.

 

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said all efforts of the government were directed towards denotification of lands and not people’s welfare. Krishna, who was Chief Minister between 1999-2004, charged the government with destroying the ‘brand Bangalore’ built during his tenure. He said the present government lacked a long-term or even short-term vision on development.

 

“You cannot mobilise resources by chanting Rama nama. One has to work towards it. But the government is channelising all its energy in covering up its misdeeds,” he said.

 

He said the BJP government was on the verge of decimation and its downfall was expected any time. “The day when Congress returns to power in Karnataka is not far away. I urge the party cadre to work in tandem with Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah and Motamma in bringing the party back to power.

 

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah mounted a blistering attack on Yeddyurappa, calling him a “big liar” and alleging that resources worth Rs one lakh crore had looted by the BJP government, including Rs 50,000 crore in illegal mining alone .

 

Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said his ministry had sanctioned Rs 2,000 crore for Karnataka for new projects including setting up new ESI hospitals. But, the State government had shown no interest in taking up the projects.

 

Referring to the political turmoil in Egypt, former Union minister C K Jaffer Sharief said a similar revolution was waiting to happen in the State if Yeddyurappa failed to resign.