Karnataka Congress staged a protest against the BJP government on Monday. Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala asked supporters to take part in the protest to “reclaim Bengaluru”, and to “bring Congress back”.

The protests were held against the BJP government at about 280 places in Bengaluru, with the Congress giving a call to “get rid of corruption, save Bengaluru”.

Congress party leaders, including AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, KPCC president DK Shivakumar and legislature party leader Siddaramaiah among others took part in the protest at the Trinity circle junction.

CM BOMMAI RESPONDS TO CONGRESS’S PROTEST

In response to Congress’s protest, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai questioned on what “moral grounds” was the Congress protesting. “Corruption was part of the Congress government when they were in power,” CM Bommai said on Monday.

CM Bommai said that the Congress and its government headed by Siddaramaiah earlier is the reason for corruption everywhere, including BBMP.

“They have the credit for increased premium from 40 to 60 per cent in Bengaluru under Siddaramaiah’s rule, there are records…To hide their faults they are indulging in such things. I have said if you (Congress) charge something do it by providing evidence and give it to Lokayukta like we are doing,” he said, as he accused the previous Siddaramaiah government of “closing down” the Lokayukta, the anti-corruption watchdog.

“They (Congress) closed Lokayukta where 59 cases were against them including the then Chief Minister and created ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) to close those cases by filing B-reports without any investigation, all of them have been referred back to Lokayukta by us now…Corruption was part of the Congress government,” he added.

“On what moral ground are they protesting?” CM Bommai said as he questioned the protest taken out by Congress in Bengaluru on Monday.

Karnakata minister and BJP leader K Sudhakar also lashed out at the Congress for closing Lokayukta.

“Overnight, Congress removed Lokayukta and formed the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB). We have reinstated Lokayukta…we want to eradicate corruption,” the BJP leader said.

He alleged, “For a construction work that costs Rs 282 crore, they (the Congress) had approved Rs 374 crore. Why was it approved 25 per cent higher? For a project taken up by NAPCL, Rs 115 cr was approved by Congress. This was 53 per cent above the tender estimate. What was the ill-intention behind this? In 2013-2018 there are financial irregularities. These are not our allegations. CAG has flagged Rs 35,000 crore financial irregularities.”