BJP, BJD indulging in match-fixing: Anand Sharma
Bhubaneswar, Aug 13 : Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Monday said there has been match-fixing between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"It's match-fixing between BJD and BJP or else what is the reason that the BJD supports every wrong decision of the BJP. They are supporting each other," said Sharma.
He said since the BJP will not get the required number of seats at the Centre to form the government and there is no chance of increasing its tally in the eastern states including Odisha in the 2019 polls, the BJP will seek the support of the BJD if new political equations arise to form the government at the Centre.
Criticising the BJD for supporting the BJP during the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman poll, Sharma asked why did Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik not raise the Mahanadi water dispute and the super specialty hospital at Rourkela with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when the latter made a phone call seeking the BJD's support.
"If you (BJD) are secular, why are you supporting BJP and not raising issues like mob lynching. What is the reason for your support?" asked Sharma.
Alleging that central agencies are used in a targeted vendetta against political opponents, he said there might be the use of such central agencies against the Naveen Patnaik government and that's why he readily agrees when he gets a phone call.
The Congress leader said the institutions of the state are under assault under the BJP government at the Centre.
"Hatred and intolerance have engulfed the country under this BJP government while mob lynching in 21st century has shamed our country across the globe," he added.
He held the Prime Minister solely responsible for making a "mess" of the economy.
Sharma said Modi and the BJP have betrayed the people of the country as the promises of two crore jobs every year, women security and a robust economy are yet to be fulfilled.
"Investments have dropped substantially. Lakhs of people have lost jobs and business houses have been shut down in the aftermath of demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax implementation. Modi has betrayed the country," he said.
He also demanded a white paper on the state of the economy.
The Congress leader demanded that the government make public the GDP numbers as per the old formula for the last 10 years.
Alleging that the Rafale fighter jets deal is the biggest scam in the country, he said it was the Prime Minister's arbitrary decision to acquire 36 jets at three times the price negotiated by the UPA.
"It was his decision to cancel the deal negotiated for complete transfer of technology and manufacture of 108 jets by HAL without authorisation. This has been done to benefit the capitalists of the country," he added.
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Cong set to lose Karnataka bypolls as per govt intelligence report: BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): The BJP on Monday claimed that, according to the Congress government’s own intelligence report, the ruling party is set to lose the by-elections in two Assembly segments in Karnataka.
Expressing confidence of a big win in the bypolls, BJP leaders said people would "teach a lesson" to the Congress, accusing it of being "anti-development".
"There has been good campaigning in both constituencies. There is confusion within Congress. In the Davanagere South segment, Muslims have decided not to vote for them, while in Bagalkot, there is infighting within the Congress candidate’s family," Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the CM, who had gone to campaign in Kerala, rushed back to Bagalkot following the intelligence report indicating that the Congress could lose the bypolls.
"I want to ask the Congress why it is struggling in the by-elections when it makes big claims about development and implementing guarantee schemes. Are you in a position where people will vote for you voluntarily?" he asked.
Alleging "zero development" under the Congress rule so far, the opposition leader said Siddaramaiah has made Karnataka a "debt state."
"There is no proper development, and the money under guarantee schemes is not being paid to beneficiaries on time," he added.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra said the bypolls in the two Assembly segments have "disturbed CM Siddaramaiah’s sleep" and become a "hard nut to crack" for the Congress government.
He said that for nearly three years, the Congress government, including the chief minister and ministers, has blamed the central government for "hiding its failures".
Despite having an experienced CM who has presented a record 17 budgets, there has been no development in the state, he claimed, adding that Siddaramaiah and his government have "completely forgotten" the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) communities.
Asserting that people are seeking change and will not fall for Congress's "allurements", the BJP leader said the party is confident of winning the bypolls.
He said there is significant anger among voters towards the Congress government, which could signal a future political shift in the state.
Even minority communities have realised that their development is not possible under the Congress and will support the BJP, he said, adding that the party is "not anti-minorities."
