BJP attempting to lure Congress MLAs in Karnataka too, claims CM Siddaramaiah

PTI, Mar 1, 2024, 7:58 PM IST

Source: PTI / File

Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to sway Congress MLAs with offers of Rs 50 crore each.

Addressing the media at Mandakalli Airport, Siddaramaiah stated that despite the alleged attempts, none of the Congress MLAs had succumbed to the offers. He emphasized the BJP’s alleged habit of destabilizing governments. Siddaramaiah remarked, “It is a fact that the way the government is dithering in different parts of the country has also happened in Karnataka.”

Siddaramaiah also raised doubts regarding the accuracy of the Niti Aayog’s report, which claims only 5% poverty in the country. Expressing skepticism, he stressed the need to validate this information against the social realities faced by the people. Highlighting the provision of rice to 82,000 families below the poverty line, Siddaramaiah questioned the disparity between official statistics and ground-level observations.

‘Investigation Ongoing into Bengaluru Cafe Bomb Incident’

Addressing the recent bomb explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah assured that thorough investigations were underway. He disclosed that surveillance footage had been scrutinized, revealing a suspicious bag placed while someone was obtaining a token. However, Siddaramaiah refrained from labeling the incident as terrorism until conclusive evidence is obtained.

He urged cooperation from all quarters in identifying the perpetrators and emphasized the need to prevent such occurrences in the future. Siddaramaiah reiterated his commitment to ensuring swift and stringent action against those responsible for the attack.