Bengaluru: After the Congress party leveled charges of corruption against the kin of Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa, Twitter users on Wednesday sought the resignation of the Chief Minister. Congress also led a campaign on the micro-blogging site with hashtag #BSY_Must_Resign.
The campaign soon caught pace and grossed nearly 10,000 tweets in a short period of time. The hashtag was also among the top three trending hashtags in Karnataka.
Earlier, in a press release, the Congress party had alleged that the son-in-law and son of Yediyurappa were “caught red-handed” asking for bribing in a project of construction of apartments by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). It had added that the revelation had “bewildered, shocked and appalled everyone”.
KPCC President DK Shivakumar in a tweet “CM Yediyurappa & his family have been caught taking a bribe in an alleged ₹666 crore BDA construction project scam.” He also called for a probe by a sitting SC Judge or by the CJ of Karnataka HC.
The official handle of the Indian National Congress added that the democratic functioning of the Karnataka government is under a serious threat.
“Karnataka is fast becoming a combination of the two under the Yeddyurappa Govt,” AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala wrote on Twitter.
In the campaign, Congress leaders also noted that there were call recordings and WhatsApp chats clearly showing that CM, his son, grandson, and son-in-law were actively involved in corruption and bribery in the project. It was also alleged that the bribe was transferred via 7 shell companies in the bank.
Adding that Karnataka had turned into a ‘Gunda Raj’ users also said that it was “Vijayendra Service Tax” that the CM and his family were collecting for working in Karnataka. The hashtag #VijayendraServiceTax was also among those trending in the state.
Here are some of the tweets from Thursday's Twitter campaign against the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.
NOTE: The claims made in the tweets embedded below or the ideas presented in them are those solely of the users. Vartha Bharati does not guarantee the authenticity of any of the claims or does not necessarily endorse, support the ideas, views posted by any of the users.
CM Yediyurappa & his family have been caught taking a bribe in an alleged ₹666 crore BDA construction project scam.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) September 23, 2020
We demand a time bound probe by a sitting SC judge or by the CJ of the Karnataka HC.
CM Yediyurappa must resign or should be sacked by BJP.#BSY_Must_Resign pic.twitter.com/XEOPoPucR0
The democratic functioning of the Govt of Karnataka is under a serious threat.
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 23, 2020
The allegations against the ruling BJP dispensation in Karnataka need to go under judicial scrutiny immediately.#BSY_Must_Resign#VijayendraServiceTax pic.twitter.com/tWHoVjvo20
Mahatma Gandhi said-
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 23, 2020
“Misgovernance & corruption always go together”
Karnataka is fast becoming a combination of the two under the Yeddyurappa Govt
Deafening noise of corruption allegations has once again engulfed the Yeddyurappa Govt#BSY_Must_Resign #VijayendraServiceTax pic.twitter.com/YFGIpCPEIo
CM Yediyurappa & Family caught in yet another scam
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) September 23, 2020
?Scam in ₹666 cr building tender
?Yeddy's son, grandson & son-in-law allegedly took crores in bribes
?Cash & Bank Transfers via 7 shell companies@narendramodi is this 'Na Khaunga'?#VijayendraServiceTax#BSY_Must_Resign
CM Yediyurappa & Family caught in yet another scam
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) September 23, 2020
?Scam in ₹666 cr building tender
?Yeddy's son, grandson & son-in-law allegedly took crores in bribes
?Cash & Bank Transfers via 7 shell companies@narendramodi is this 'Na Khaunga'?#VijayendraServiceTax#BSY_Must_Resign
Ever since the bjp Govt has come to power in Karnataka its reeking of corruption Profits during pandemic, bribes for transfers & extortion is the norm of the day.
— Lavanya Ballal | ಲಾವಣ್ಯ ಬಲ್ಲಾಳ್ (@LavanyaBallal) September 23, 2020
CM’s kin has been caught red handed demanding bribes in ₹666 BDAproject.
#BSY_Must_Resign
#VijayendraServiceTax pic.twitter.com/FJ6KdD3klT
Stunning revelations against @BSYBJP and his family in a scam involving ₹666 crore in a building tender.PC at KPCC,Bangalore by @rssurjewala @DKShivakumar @siddaramaiah and other leaders.#VijayendraServiceTax#BSY_Must_Resign https://t.co/q7l1crhcHq
— Nayana Jhawar /Nayana Motamma (@NayanaJhawar) September 23, 2020
Appalling that Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa's son #Vijayendra & grandson Shashidhar Maradi are seemingly involved in an allegedly corrupt scheme. Talk of #VijayendraServiceTax has been swirling for a month, from BJP legislators themselves. #BSY_Must_Resignhttps://t.co/WoTu35mZOB
— Santhosh D'Souza (@santhoshd) September 23, 2020
Corruption is in the blood of BJP Leaders !
— Rohan Gupta (@rohanrgupta) September 23, 2020
Shocking evidences of Corruption by
CM Yediyurappa's family !
But they are immune from Modi Army of agencies !
#BSY_Must_Resign pic.twitter.com/C9S4kPNT6F
Yeh another scam by BJP Govt‼️
— Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) September 23, 2020
A mega scam worth ₹666 crores in a building tender!
Staunching evidences has been found against CM Yediyurappa & his Family. Such Repeat offenders!
Where is @narendramodi ? "Nah Khaunga Nah Khane Dunga?"#BSY_Must_Resign #VijayendraServiceTax https://t.co/Y7bBmGT30h
A corrupt man Always has a Price
— The Priyanca ✋ (@priyancapatil8) September 23, 2020
The BJP has proved it yet again that corruption is second nature to them.This is unacceptable.#BSY_Must_Resign#VijayendraService pic.twitter.com/jzotoay3KT
BS Yediyurappa and Family Didn't Learn A Lesson Even After Being Previously Jailed Under Corruption Charges
— Rahul Mk | ರಾಹುಲ್ ಮನೋಜ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ (@RahulManojkumar) September 23, 2020
Now - Scam In Building Tender Worth ₹.666Cr#VijayendraServiceTax#BSY_Must_Resign @rssurjewala pic.twitter.com/y7IcPoTsgu
CM Yediyurappa thought changing the spelling of his name will change his habits
— Haris Butt?? (@harisbutt142) September 23, 2020
BUT AGAIN
?₹666 cr scam in building tender
?Yediyurappa' son, grandson & son-in-law took crores in bribes
?Cash & Bank Transfers via 7 shell companies#VijayendraServiceTax#BSY_Must_Resign pic.twitter.com/fs63kbHraC
India is busy in fighting With Corona & Modi Jungle Raj,but people of Karnatak is having 1more trouble ,Mr @BSYBJP & his son started thr own Service Tax,if u wanna Work in Karnataka ,thn first pay Vijendra service Tax & Thn work.@srivatsayb#BSY_Must_Resign#VijayendraServiceTax
— chetan (@chetan4_U) September 23, 2020
Once again,Yeddy ji does what he's best at...Evn during a Pandemic,he lost no opportunity in minting goodies?? Ths time,its a whopping ₹666 crores,wth d connivance of his family?Y is d media outrage missin? Whr r d CBI,IT,ED, etc???@siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar#BSY_Must_Resign https://t.co/Fpdo6RF6ZF
— Shree Speaks (@StayingReal0511) September 23, 2020
Scam Alert‼️
— ? ? (@southcongressi) September 23, 2020
Scam of ₹666 cr building tender
The grandson and son in law of Chief Minster BS Yeddyurappa have shocked Nation
Is this not a clear cut case of money laundering and an offence under The Prevention of Money Laundering Act?#BSY_Must_Resign#VijayendraServiceTax
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.
LONDON/MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has acquired the sword of Raghuji Bhosale, founder of the Nagpur Bhosale dynasty and a distinguished commander in the Maratha army under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, after winning it in an auction in London.
Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar formally took possession of the weapon on Monday. It is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on 18 August, where it will be received with ceremonial honours, as reported by The Indian Express.
News of the sword’s availability surfaced on 28 April this year. Minister Shelar consulted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, after which the government began preparations to participate in the auction.
A group of Marathi-speaking residents in London gathered to witness the handover. Hemant Dalvi, Deputy Director of the Archaeology Department, accompanied the minister during the formalities.
The sword is an 18th-century Maratha Firangi. It has a straight, single-edged European blade with a gold-inlaid Mulheri hilt and near the hilt is the European manufacturer’s name, while the spine bears a gold-inlaid Devanagari inscription reading “Shreemant Raghoji Bhosale Senasahib Subha Firang,” confirming its connection to Raghuji Bhosale. The hilt’s gold koftgari work and the green cloth-wrapped rounded pommel add to its rarity as Maratha weapons of the period typically lacked elaborate ornamentation or inscriptions.
Raghuji Bhosale I, ruled from Nagpur between 1695 and 1755. He expanded Maratha influence into Bengal, Odisha, Chanda, Chhattisgarh, Sambalpur and parts of southern India. His military campaigns, included victories over the Nawabs of Bengal, Cuddapah and Kurnool. The Nagpur kingdom was also known for its rich deposits of iron and copper, used for weapons and trade.
While few historians believe that the sword left India in the early 19th century, as part of the war booty taken by the British East India Company after their victory over the Bhosales at the Battle of Sitabuldi in 1817, others say it was taken later as a diplomatic gift.
The sword will be escorted from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to PL Deshpande Kala Academy in Dadar by a ceremonial bike rally upon its arrival in Mumbai next week. A cultural programme titled Gad Garjana will be held the same day in the presence of state dignitaries.
Minister Shelar described the acquisition as an important moment for Maharashtra’s heritage and extended his thanks to the Chief Minister, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for their support in securing the artefact.