Raichur, Sep 2 (IANS) The BJP’s Ballari Chalo protest march against the Congress government entered its second day on Wednesday, with Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra stepping up his attack on the ruling party, alleging that corruption and “commission” demands have reached such a level that even legislators from the ruling party were being forced to write to the Chief Minister over the issue.
Speaking to reporters as he flagged off the second day of the padayatra, Vijayendra said the letter written by Congress MLA Ashok Rai to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was evidence of the extent of the alleged commission menace in the government.
“The fact that ruling party MLA Ashok Rai himself has written to the Chief Minister over the commission issue shows how rampant the practice has become. If allegations are being made that seven per cent commission has to be paid to a minister, people should understand the level to which this government has sunk,” Vijayendra said.
He alleged that corruption has crossed all limits in the Congress government and that the Opposition was no longer the only voice raising concerns, as legislators from the ruling party were also questioning the government.
“People have reached a situation where they are asking, ‘What difference does it make whether this government stays or goes?’” he said.
Vijayendra also criticised the government over its declaration of drought-hit taluks, alleging discrimination in the process.
Despite the severe drought-like situation prevailing in several parts of the state, the government has declared only 101 taluks as drought-affected, he said.
“If the remaining taluks have to be declared drought-affected, perhaps the farmers too will have to pay a commission to the government,” Vijayendra remarked sarcastically.
He said farmers were struggling with deficient rainfall, crop losses and mounting debt and that the government should have come to their aid instead of being preoccupied with political matters.
Vijayendra challenged the Congress government to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and seek a fresh mandate if it was unable to govern the state.
“If the Congress government cannot run the government, there is no need for it to cling to power. Dissolve the Assembly, go before the people and face an election. Is the Congress ready to accept the people’s verdict?” he asked.
He said the BJP’s Ballari Chalo padayatra was not merely a political programme but a movement being conducted as the voice of the people.
“The padayatra will expose the administrative failures of the Congress government before the people. The Congress government is more concerned about commissions than people’s problems. The time has come for the people to give such a government a fitting response. The people’s anger against the government is the strength behind this padayatra,” Vijayendra said.
The BJP’s ongoing 10-day, 175-km ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra from Lingasugur to Ballari is on its second day.
The march covers around nine Assembly constituencies across Raichur and Ballari districts, targeting the ruling Congress government.
–IANS
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