Congress 'Gangotri of corruption', don't need their certificate: CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Jul 27: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday called Congress a "Gangotri (fountainhead) of corruption" and said he doesn't need a certificate from the opposition party, as he completes one year in office.
He was reacting to Congress on Tuesday giving a "zero" score for his government, and calling 'Janotsava' (festival of people), the event organised to mark the occasion at Doddaballapur on July 28, as "Bhrashtotsava" (festival of corruption). The event would be inaugurated by BJP national president J P Nadda.
"Congress is Gangotri of corruption, their current and former national presidents are daily attending inquiries in cases relating to corruption, their state president too has faced such inquiries. We need not learn lessons from them, people are aware of things," Bommai said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the Congress has no right to speak on corruption.
"Let them share details about at least one instance of corruption, I will get a fair probe done. Unnecessarily, they are indulging in hit and run. You will get to know about Congress' corruption in the days to come... I don't need Congress' certificate, people will give us the certificate," he added.
Congress leaders D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and B K Hariprasad, who held a joint press conference on Tuesday, had alleged that sowing the seeds of hatred and destroying harmony were the only achievements of Bommai administration, under which large-scale corruption has taken place.
They attacked the government, accusing it of having failed in all aspects.
CM Bommai said at the 'Janotsava', pro-people work of his government and its reach to beneficiaries will be highlighted.
The Chief Minister said, "They (section of Congress) are doing 'Siddaramotsava' (Siddaramaiah's 75th birthday bash next month), it is a sign of personality cult to project an individual, but ours is to project people and what is being done for them."
"Their utsava (festival) is about an individual, for individual gains and with selfish motives, while ours is about the people, this is what has to be done in a democracy," he added.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
