Bommai panic stricken over response to Bharat Jodo Yatra in Karnataka: Congress
Chitradurga (Karnataka) (PTI): The Congress hit out at the BJP on Tuesday, saying Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is panic-stricken over the response that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is getting in his state and accused him of running a "corrupt" and "incompetent" government.
Congress in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said Bommai should stop befooling people and posed a set of 10 questions to him, asking why has he not taken action in corruption cases.
The remarks came as Bommai and BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa started their Jana Sankalpa Yatra on Tuesday.
"Panic-stricken by the sea of people marching in BharatJodoYatra, CM Bommai-Yediyurappa begin their 'Plane-Helicopter' Yatra today.
"First, People of Karnataka want answers -- Was Yediyurappa removed as CM on charges of corruption? Has a corruption FIR lodged against him now by Lokayukta? Isn't the BJP government known Nationwide as '40PercentSarkara'?" Surjewala asked on Twitter.
"Isn't #PayCM the buzzword on everyone's mouth? Why have you not taken action on 40% commission complaint of 'contractors' association'? Why have you not acted on the 40% commission complaint of 13,000 Private Schools Association?" he asked.
The Congress leader also asked why has even Matta's Swamiji accused the Bommai government of 40-per cent commission and why Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs themselves are accusing the government as "most corrupt".
"Why are your own MLAs saying even CM post is on sale for ?2,500 crores? Haven't your own ministers saying that there is no government in Karnataka and you are just passing time?" Surjewala asked.
"Mr. Bommai, the plain truth is...you have zero plans, zero vision for Karnataka -- yours is a zero-sum game. You lord over the most corrupt government in India. Your incompetence is becoming legendary and your mal-administration is exemplary. Stop fooling people, people will defeat you," the Congress leader said in a series of tweets.
Bommai and Yediyurappa launched the saffron party's yatra in the southern state from Raichur on Tuesday, in the run-up to the Assembly polls next year.
The two leaders are scheduled to cover 52 Assembly segments by December 25 as part of the Jana Sankalpa Yatra.
The ruling party's tour begins at a time when the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, is passing through Karnataka.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
