Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party's accusations that the state government is funding Congress in Bihar assembly polls. The leaders dared the BJP to prove the allegations.
Accusing the Karnataka Congress government of raising funds for the upcoming Bihar polls, BJP MPs Jagadish Shettar and B.Y. Raghavendra alleged the Congress leaders' "fundraising" has led to widespread corruption in the state.
"All Ministers in the cabinet have been looting through officials to send the funds for Bihar polls. Officials have been asked to collect money. After gathering money from transfers, now it is being done in the name of renewals. All ministers are collecting money for Bihar polls. It has become their main business," Raghavendra alleged.
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Former chief minister Shettar charged during a recent dinner meeting hosted by Siddaramaiah, targets were fixed for each minister. "The chief minister had called each minister separately during the dinner and had discussed with them, and depending upon the departments, the ministers' hold and their strength and capacity, targets were fixed for them to collect money, to send it for Bihar polls," PTI reported quoting Shettar.
However, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar denied the allegations. "We have not given even 5 paise to any state election from Karnataka, we are not giving to Bihar also," the chief minister said. Siddaramaiah charged it was the BJP which used to collect funds from Karnataka for elections in other states.
Demanding the BJP-led Opposition to prove the allegation, Shivakumar said, "If they have any evidence, let them release it. Let Raghavendra not become synonymous with lies. There are some leaders who do hit and run, let Raghavendra too not become the same," the Karnataka Congress chief said.
