BJP’s Vijayendra alleges Cong govt seeking bribes to declare drought hit areas

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Raichur (Karnataka), Sep 2 (IANS) BJP Karnataka President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday alleged that the Congress government was demanding bribes to declare drought-affected areas, and accused the government of neglecting farmers, Dalits, youth and the poor.

Vijayendra, who was participating in the BJP’s padayatra, took a break from the march to inspect drought conditions and millet crops at Bedar Karlukunti Road in Raichur district. Former minister B. Sriramulu and MLA Raju Gowda accompanied him during the inspection.

Speaking in Maski on the second day of the padayatra, Vijayendra claimed that the region was facing a severe drought but had not yet been declared drought-affected.

“There is no work in this Congress government without paying a bribe. If the farmers of Maski pay Rs 10 lakh or Rs 50 lakh as a bribe, the Chief Minister may declare this area drought-affected,” he alleged.

He accused the Congress government of coming to power by making false promises and subsequently forgetting farmers, Dalits, youth and the poor.

Vijayendra also alleged that Rs 52,000 crore allocated under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) had been diverted to other departments, affecting the development of Dalits and depriving them of opportunities for housing, education and other welfare measures.

“Employment opportunities for youth could have been created. Houses could have been built for Dalits. The money could have been used to strengthen education and provide drinking water to the doorsteps of poor people. Instead, the funds were diverted to other departments. Even God will not forgive you,” he said.

Referring to the BJP’s ongoing agitation and padayatra, Vijayendra alleged that Rs 187 crore had been siphoned off from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

He said the BJP had launched the padayatra demanding action against the corrupt minister and alleged that the funds had been used as a “tribute” to the Congress high command.

“The announcement of our padayatra has created panic in the Chief Minister. There is fear that the Chief Minister’s chair could be threatened, which is why the minister was made to resign,” Vijayendra alleged.

Questioning the Congress government’s commitment to the welfare of Dalits, he also referred to former minister and senior Congress leader K.N. Rajanna’s resignation.

“Chief Minister, when Rajanna, who belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community, spoke against Rahul Gandhi, was he not made to resign within 24 hours? Is this your concern for Dalits?” he asked.

Vijayendra further accused the Congress government of being “anti-Dalit, anti-poor and anti-farmer” and claimed that people had decided that the BJP should return to power at the earliest.

He highlighted welfare initiatives introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, including the Bhagyalakshmi scheme, 108 ambulance services and concrete roads in Dalit colonies.

He appealed to people to work towards removing what he described as an “anti-people” Congress government from power.

–IANS

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