Siddaramaiah questions PM Modi on electoral bond issue
Bengaluru, Mar 16: Terming electoral bonds as a "scam" and the "biggest corruption scandal in the world", Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about BJP's alleged silence on the issue.
Questioning the PM, who was on a visit to the state today, Siddaramaiah wondered if the union government was "misusing" its investigative agencies to extort donations and insisted that the Supreme Court should establish a Special Investigation Committee to probe the electoral bond "scam", and, until then, freeze the bank accounts of BJP.
"Welcome to Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Please answer why is BJP silent about the electoral bond scam - the biggest corruption scandal in the world?" Siddarmaiah posted on social media platform X.
ALSO READ: PM launches scathing attack on Cong govt in Karnataka, says it's engaged in "loot"
"For a decade, you held power, promising to bring back black money from Swiss Bank, eliminate black money via demonetisation, claiming 'Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga', and being the so-called 'Chowkidar of the Nation'. Now, it is time for you to address the issues surrounding the electoral bond scam," he said.
"Despite the Supreme Court's order, why is the State Bank of India (SBI) hesitant to provide complete information? If the sale and purchase of electoral bonds was conducted legally, why is SBI concealing information? Who is exerting pressure on SBI," he asked, demanding Modi's response.
Modi today formally launched the party's Lok Sabha election campaign in the state in Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge.
Claiming that the information released by the Election Commission--which the media is scrutinising-- it appears that the BJP government at the centre is "blackmailing" businessmen, Siddaramaiah said, "When we look at the dates of IT, ED, and CBI raids on these businessmen and the dates they purchased electoral bonds, it seems like a clear case of blackmail."
"Is the union government misusing its investigative agencies to extort donations? Is the electoral bond a political weapon of mass extortion in the hands of BJP? Prime Minister Narendra Modi, please respond," he said.
Based on emerging information, it seems that a significant number of participants in the electoral bond scam are from infrastructure and pharmaceutical firms, he said.
"How reliable are the roads, bridges, and buildings constructed by such fraudulent organisations? How safe are the medicines produced by these corrupt entities, BJP? Shouldn't you, Prime Minister Modi, be the one to answer these questions," Siddaramaiah questioned.
The chief minister said that the Supreme Court, by thoroughly exposing the electoral bond scam, has raised suspicions among every citizen about the misuse of their tax money, and people strongly believe that the union government is fully involved in this fraud.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
