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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Karnataka cabinet decides to increase bus fare by 15 per cent
Bengaluru, Jan 2: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to increase the bus fares in the state-owned transport corporations by 15 per cent.
The decision was taken in view of the substantial hike in operational costs such as increase in spending on fuel prices and staff, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said.
The opposition BJP lashed out at the Congress government in the state over its decision to hike bus fares.
Addressing reporters here, Patil said the decision will come into effect from January 5.
The move is expected to generate Rs 74.85 crore monthly and about Rs 784 crore annually.
“The cabinet has decided to revise the bus fare of the four state transport corporations -- KSRTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC and BMTC by 15 per cent,” he said.
According to Patil, the BMTC bus fares were increased on January 10, 2015 when the diesel prices were Rs 60.90 per litre.
“The daily diesel consumption was Rs 9.16 crore 10 years ago by the four corporations, which has now increased to Rs 13.21 crore. The expenditure on staff in these four corporations was Rs 12.95 crore daily, which has increased to Rs 18.36 crore daily. Hence the revision was necessary,” he said justifying the hike.
The Minister also underlined that 'Shakti' guarantee will continue.
Shakti offers free ride for Karnataka women in state-owned non-luxury buses across the state.
In the current fiscal, Rs 5,015 crore has been earmarked for the 'Shakti' scheme, the Minister explained.
Patil said, “Every month the state government is releasing Rs 417.92 crore grant to these four corporations. This will not be a burden on the state finance.”
He added, “With the hike in bus fares across all the categories of bus services, neither the transport corporations will go bankrupt, nor government exchequer will go empty. Mind you, we are the best state in terms of managing finances.”
Patil also said the state government has cleared all the provident fund dues to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore.
Regarding the decision he said, “We discussed about hike between 13 per cent and 15 per cent and the cabinet arrived at a decision of 15 per cent looking at the prices prevailing in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. After the rise of 15 per cent, we will be lesser than any of these states.”
In a post on X, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, with what face do you boast that you have given the five guarantee schemes to the people of the state? By failing to provide money for the Shakti Yojana, you have caused the transport company to tread the path of loss."
He said by increasing the bus fare by 15 per cent, the government line is that the bus travel is free for women, but it will definitely be a burden for men.
"The decision of the Congress government in Karnataka to increase the transport fare by 15 per cent is unscientific and anti-people and the BJP will raise its voice against this and support the people.
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ನವರೇ,
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) January 2, 2025
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