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In an exclusive interview with News18, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also spoke about by-elections, MUDA scam, Covid scam and Waqf row.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (PTI File)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prove that Congress used excise money from the state for Maharashtra elections. In an exclusive interview with News18, Siddaramaiah said, “That is totally false. Not a single rupee has been collected from the excise department. He, being the PM of this country, should not lie like this. He has so many agencies, without facts he should not lie like this. It is a totally motivated statement and a false statement. If he proves we used Rs 700 crore from Karnataka excise, I’ll resign. If not, he must resign.”
Siddaramaiah’s government has been marred by allegations of corruption in the MUDA scam too. When asked whether he will resign over the scam, the Karnataka CM said, “I will be CM for the next five years and the Congress will remain in power in the state for the full term.”
Corruption: MUDA Scam and Justice D’Cunha Committee
“Where is the corruption? Corruption means there should be something. I have not committed any corruption at all,” Siddaramaiah said, speaking on allegations against him in the MUDA scam.
When asked about former Karnataka chief minister Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy saying he will quit over scams, Siddaramaiah said, “What moral right does Yediyurappa have to speak about me? He is facing a POCSO case and is out on bail. What moral right does he have to speak about me? Where is the corruption in that case? What is my role in the MUDA case? Tell me.”
“Where is the scam in MUDA or Valmiki? They are making false allegations in both cases,” the Karnataka CM added.
Speaking on the Justice D’Cunha committee formed to probe the alleged Covid scam under the then-Yediyurappa government, Siddaramaiah said, “I have constituted a commission under Justice Michael D’Cunha. He has given a preliminary report which says Mr Yediyurappa and Sriramulu have purchased 3 lakh PPE kits from China without calling a tender. When it was available in Karnataka, where was the necessity to purchase it from China? The entire report is with the cabinet sub-committee and the cabinet is yet to receive it, after which the cabinet will come to a decision and we will take action against the persons who have erred.”
Waqf And Zameer Khan’s comments
The Karnataka government has also been facing allegations of minority appeasement over recent reports of some farmers getting notices of their land being Waqf property. When asked how this will affect the elections and bypolls, Siddaramaiah said, “It is not going to be an issue because it is not a new thing. In its 2014 manifesto, the BJP makes a statement that Waqf properties that have been encroached and those who have encroached will be tempered from the property. During Yediyurappa’s time, Sadananda Gowda’s time, Kumaraswamy’s period, they had issued notices to 216 farmers. Bommai also made a statement that those who have encroached upon the property will be removed. We will go by the law and will do as the law says.”
On Karnataka Waqf minister Zameer Ahmed Khan calling Kumaraswamy “Kallu”, Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t encourage what Zameer has said. He should not have made such statements, but Kumaraswamy has been making false allegations always.”
Elections
When asked about the chances of the Congress in the bypolls on three seats in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said, “According to me, we will win all three seats, that is my reading. I have also seen with my own eyes that people are responding to us more than our expectations.” “The Congress has always delivered on its promises and the guarantees have worked in our favour,” he added.
Speaking on the BJP’s criticism of Siddaramaiah’s policies in the state, the Karnataka CM said, “They are criticising our guarantees, but what is the BJP doing? They are promising the people of Jharkhand the same guarantees and schemes that we have already given to people. What is Amit Shah promising to people in Jharkhand? Similar schemes like ours. They have done the same for the people of Maharashtra as well.”
When asked whether the Channapatna bypoll fight is one between HD Kumaraswamy, DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, the Karnataka CM said, “It is a fight between CP Yogeshwara and Nikhil Kumarswamy, not me and Kumaraswamy or anybody else.”