Work for Gandhi family, get promoted in Congress: BJP
New Delhi, June 27: Days after the I-T Department served notice to Robert Vadra to pay Rs 25 crore for evading taxes, the BJP on Wednesday alleged that his close aide Krishnan Srinivasan was appointed AICC Secretary as a "quid pro quo" for his services to the Gandhi family.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were directors in 2008 in Blue Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd. Later, Priyanka Gandhi exited the company and one Krishnan Srinivasan was made the director, he said.
"That time there was no discussion on this name as he was working underground helping the Gandhi family in the same way as we have said about the Rs 25 crore case," he said and added the company had taken money from real estate company DLF Ltd for buying land.
Patra said money was saved and shifted under various heads for several years till it reached the Gandhi family. It worked in the same module as was in the case of National Herald, he said and asked Rahul Gandhi for a reply on why Srinivasan was promoted.
"Srinivasan's name becomes important today as some days ago Rahul Gandhi made him AICC Secretary and later in-charge of Telangana. This is quid pro quo -- first you engage in illegal activities for Gandhi family and then we will bring you in Congress and give promotion," he said.
Patra also questioned Rahul Gandhi on his brother-in-law Robert Vadra and his company Sky Light Hospitality, who has been charged with tax evasion during 2010-11 when UPA was in power and has now been served an income tax notice to pay Rs 25 crore.
Vadra had disclosed an income of Rs 37 lakh in 2010-11, while a re-evaluation by the I-T Department said the total income for the financial year was Rs 43 crore.
"I wish to ask Rahul Gandhi when Robert Vadra was engaged in corrupt practices, why did the UPA government overlook? Why was the assessment not correct that time when his company was getting windfall gains? Why he was not paying income tax like common citizens?
"The law is catching up and they will have to cough up the money which is the hard-earned money of the taxpayers of this country," he said.
Finally, Patra said Rahul Gandhi should have done his homework before commenting on an agency's report saying India was the most dangerous place for women, even worse than Syria.
"It was not based on any data or statistics, but was merely based on perception of 550 experts," he said.
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Industry body BCIC welcomes K'taka budget, calls it growth oriented
Bengaluru (PTI): The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Saturday welcomed the Karnataka Budget 2026-27, recognising its balanced approach towards fostering economic growth, supporting MSMEs, and enhancing infrastructure development.
K Ravi, Senior Vice President, BCIC and Chairman, International Business Committee. appreciated the government's commitment to strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector through targeted financial incentives, skill development programs, and ease of doing business reforms.
"These measures are expected to boost manufacturing capabilities and create significant employment opportunities across the state," he said, in a statement.
According to him, the budget's focus on infrastructure, including investments in road connectivity, urban development, and industrial parks, tourism and hospitality aligns with BCIC's vision of a robust industrial ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and competitiveness.
BCIC also applauded the emphasis on IT, AI, technology and innovation, which it said will drive Karnataka's position as a leading hub for startups and digital economy initiatives.
While the budget presents ambitious welfare schemes and agricultural support, BCIC said it encourages continued dialogue between industry stakeholders and the government to ensure effective implementation and maximise impact.
BCIC further said that it remains committed to collaborating with the government to facilitate a conducive business environment that promotes investment, innovation, and inclusive growth in Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented his record 17th budget with a total outlay of Rs 4,48,004 crore.
Reacting to the state budget, Karmendra Kohli, CEO, SecurEyes said it sends a strong signal on digital responsibility.
He said in a statement that the proposed social media ban for children under 16 is a timely step but its success will hinge entirely on robust digital identity verification and enforcement mechanisms, which are inherently cybersecurity challenges.
Similarly, the establishment of the Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone and AI Centers of Excellence is exciting, but every AI platform is a potential attack surface, Kohli said.
"As Karnataka accelerates its digital ambitions, cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought; it must be embedded from the ground up. We look forward to the state building on its Cybersecurity Policy 2024 with dedicated budget allocations that match the scale of its tech aspirations," he added.
