Rahul Gandhi's disqualification a campaign issue in poll-bound Karnataka, says Veerappa Moily
Bengaluru(PTI): The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member would be a campaign issue for the Congress in the Assembly elections in Karnataka and it would contribute to the defeat of the BJP government in the state, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily said on Monday.
In an interview with PTI, the former Karnataka chief minister said there is a "groundswell" of support for the Congress in the state, and his party's campaign on corruption issues have worked, while the BJP is facing a "strong, anti-incumbency wave".
"Definitely, it (Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification following his conviction and sentencing by a Surat court) will be a campaign issue," the former Union minister said.
Asked if the disqualification issue would serve to the "political advantage" of the Congress in the poll-bound state, Moily said: "It's everywhere in the country; after all, it (the issue) shows that it's the peak of vendetta politics".
He said the issue would create a sympathy wave in part for the Congress becoming "one of the factors that will be responsible for the fall of the BJP".
Moily said his party's campaign is far more aggressive than the ruling BJP, which is concentrating more on the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah image, adding that the Congress would also focus on "exposing" the BJP and the Narendra Modi-led government and their "revengeful politics".
He alleged that the BJP government has "messed up" the reservation issue in Karnataka.
Moily was referring to the Basavaraj Bommai government's recent decision on scrapping four per cent reservation for Muslims within the OBC category and earmarking an additional two per cent each to Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities and creating four sub-categories to introduce internal quota for different Dalit communities under the SC category.
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FIR filed against Nirmala Sitharaman over electoral bonds allegations
CM Siddaramaiah asks if Nirmala Sitharaman will resign
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court has ordered the registration of an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, following a complaint alleging extortion linked to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme. The complaint was lodged by Adarsh Iyer from the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane.
The Special Court for People's Representatives in Bengaluru has directed the police to register the FIR, which implicates Sitharaman and others in the case.
In response to the allegations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asks if Nirmala Sitharaman will resign.
"An FIR has been registered against Nirmala Sitharaman in the Special Court for People's Representatives. Who is she? She is a Union Minister, and there is an FIR against her too. They were involved in extortion through electoral bonds and the FIR has been registered on that. She should tender her resignation after the FIR has been registered. Will they (BJP) ask her to resign?" he said.
"Now, as per Section 17A (of Prevention of Corruption Act), the investigation must be completed and a report should be submitted within three months. Based on that, they have registered the FIR and are investigating further," he added.
"In my case, the lower court has passed an order. The Governor has asked for an enquiry under Section 17A, and the court has directed that the investigation be completed and a report should be submitted within three months," Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah will also be probed under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with alleged irregularities in the MUDA case.
Siddaramaiah also demanded resignation of JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, accusing him of corruption.
"First, let Kumaraswamy resign. Shouldn't he tender his resignation too? Let them resign first. Even PM (Narendra) Modi should resign. In the election bond extortion case, PM Modi should also tender his resignation. Nirmala Sitharaman should resign as well. Kumaraswamy is out on bail and he should resign," he said.
