Karnataka elections: Cong releases 'corruption rate card', accuses BJP of looting over ₹15000 crore

Karnataka Congress party leaders alleged that the ruling BJP govt in state has "looted" ₹1,50,000 crore in the last four years.

Published on: May 5, 2023, 16:09:04 IST

ANIPosted by Yamini C S

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Ahead of assembly elections, Karnataka Congress party on Friday released a 'corruption rate card' depicting various 'scandals' of ruling BJP government in the state, including '40 per cent commission' charge by state contractors.

Karnataka Congress also took a jibe on BJP's claim about a 'double-engine government' in the state, and instead called it a "trouble engine government".

While releasing the corruption rate card in both English and Kannada, Karnataka Congress party leaders alleged that the ruling BJP govt in state has "looted" ₹1,50,000 crore in the last four years.

"The cost for the CM post is ₹2,500 crores while the cost of a ministerial berth is ₹500 crore," Congress said in its 'Corruption rate card'.

"40 per cent sarkara has looted over ₹1,50,000 crore from the people of Karnataka in the last 4 years," it alleged.

READ | Karnataka Poll: CM Bommai junks pre-polls surveys giving Cong an edge, exudes confidence in BJP

The rate card with specific mention about commission, read, "The government demands different deals. It begins with 30 per cent commission for the mutt grants, 40 per cent for road contracts and goes up to 75 per cent for the Covid-19 supplies."

Karnataka Congress also took a jibe on BJP's claim about a 'double-engine government' in the state, and instead called it a "trouble engine government".

Both Congress and BJP have geared up for the upcoming elections, there are words of war between the parties over several issues including Hindu Lord Hanuman taking centre stage in poll-bound state after the grand old party released its manifesto which talked of ban on organisations like Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India.

The Congress manifesto said the party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred among communities on grounds of caste and religion.

Accusing the Congress of hurling abuses at him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said people of Karnataka do not support this "black culture" and that they should punish those making abuses by saying 'Jai Bajrangbali' when they cast their vote.

READ | Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE Updates: PM Modi attacks Cong over ‘The Kerala Story’ in Ballari speech

Addressing a rally here, the Prime Minister said BJP wants to make Karnataka the number one state in India and has a roadmap and a plan.

In Vijayanagara, on Tuesday, PM Modi had slammed Congress over its Karnataka election manifesto and said the party was attempting to lock up those who worship Lord Hanuman.

"Today it is my great fortune to bow down to this holy land of Lord Hanuman. But see the misfortune, today when I have come here to bow down to Hanumanji, at the same time the Congress party has decided to lock up Bajrangbali in its manifesto. Earlier Shri Ram was locked up and now they have taken a pledge to lock up those who chant Jai Bajrangbali. It is the misfortune of the country that the Congress had problems even with Lord Shri Ram and now it also has problems with those who say Jai Bajrangbali," he had said.

Polling for Karnataka elections will take place on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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