The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): The Congress launched a sharp critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for reinstating mining mogul G Janardhana Reddy into the party ranks before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, suggesting this move showcases the BJP’s tolerance for corruption. The opposition questioned the sincerity of the BJP’s anti-corruption stance, implying that the party’s actions contradict its public denunciations of corruption.
Reddy, a former Karnataka minister and the current MLA for Gangavati, who has faced accusations in an illegal mining case, merged his Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) with the BJP, marking his return to the party. This decision was publicized in the presence of veteran BJP leader and ex-Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, among other notable party figures.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary, expressed his dismay over social media, alleging that the BJP has become a refuge for corrupt politicians. He criticized the party for what he perceives as a contradiction between its public anti-corruption commitments and its actions, accusing it of engaging in a systematic normalization of corruption under Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s leadership.
The Congress has linked Reddy’s rejoining with broader concerns about the BJP’s financial practices, including the alleged misuse of state power to consolidate financial and political support through questionable means. Pawan Khera, heading the Congress’ media and publicity department, detailed the historical context of the “Iron-ore mining scam” implicating the “Yeddy-Reddy Gang” and scrutinized the BJP’s decision to support Reddy despite his controversial past.
The Congress also highlighted ongoing legal challenges related to the mining scam, questioning the BJP’s commitment to addressing corruption when it appears to protect individuals like Reddy. They pointed to the CBI’s handling of the case and judicial remarks on the delay in prosecution as evidence of a failure to pursue justice in high-profile corruption cases.
Khera challenged the BJP to explain its apparent protection of Reddy, juxtaposing the party’s aggressive use of investigative agencies against opposition figures with its welcoming attitude towards individuals facing serious corruption allegations. The Congress’s allegations suggest a cynical manipulation of legal and political mechanisms to serve partisan interests, casting doubt on the BJP’s anti-corruption rhetoric.
The reintegration of Reddy into the BJP, according to the Congress, symbolizes a deeper issue within the party’s approach to governance and ethics, raising critical questions about the integrity of India’s political landscape as the nation approaches key electoral milestones.