New Delhi, February 18 The BJP on Wednesday alleged "land grabbing and corruption" by the Congress in Karnataka, citing media reports that the state government has allocated 24 sites, intended for public amenities, to the ruling party for just Rs 2 crore.
There was no immediate reaction from the Congress or the Karnataka government to the BJP's allegations.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia cited a media report that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah government has transferred 24 government plots to the Congress Bhavan Trust for the construction of about 100 offices of the ruling party across the state.
These government sites were intended for developing public amenities for the people of Karnataka, but they were transferred to the Trust to please "the Gandhi family," with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar vying for the CM's post, Bhatia alleged.
"These 24 sites, which have been transferred to the Congress Bhavan Trust, are valued at around Rs 50 crore. The corrupt Congress is getting them for just Rs 2 crore. The blatant corruption of Rs 48 crore is clearly evident in this case," he added.
Targeting the Gandhi family, the BJP spokesperson cited the National Herald case involving Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and alleged that the Congress has become synonymous with "corruption".
"We have seen how Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, fixated on his position and not concerned about the people of his state, is being sidelined by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who wants to be Chief Minister," Bhatia said.
"If there is a power struggle within the Congress and there is a need to please the Gandhi family within the Congress, should the people of Karnataka suffer? Does that give Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a license to grab public land and convert it into property of the Congress, even at a paltry price of Rs 2 crore?" the BJP leader asked.
Bhatia also questioned Rahul Gandhi why the people of Karnataka are being "exploited" in the fight for the CM's post between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.