BJP govt in Karnataka created 'world record' in corruption: Rahul Gandhi

HAVERI: Sharpening his attack on the BJP government in Karnataka, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today accused it of having created "a world record" in corruption.

Addressing a rally here on the second leg of his tour for the May five Assembly polls, he said the BJP talked about corruption at the Centre, but "corruption in the state did not come to their attention."

"On the issue of corruption, Karnataka government has created a world record," Gandhi said, targeting the BJP mainly on the corruption plank as he did on the first leg of his tour on April 23.

The ruling BJP forgot about people's welfare, was involved in mutual squabbles and its leaders fought for money, Gandhi alleged. "Do you want such a government?"

Gandhi claimed that in the 2008 Assembly polls, BJP assumed office using the money power of "Bellary brothers", apparently referring to mining barons Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy. He alleged that they exploited iron ore resources and exported it to China, enriching themselves and thereby becoming influential.

"It was the Bellary government, not BJP government," he said.

Gandhi said Bangalore was a world brand because of the IT sector, but in the last eight to nine years, the earlier BJP-JDS coalition and current BJP rule had seen the city lose its supremacy.

Vital sectors like irrigation, agriculture, power and labour had been neglected during their rule, he said.