Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad on Friday hit back at BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra, saying he should first respond to allegations against leaders of his own party before targeting the Congress.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Hariprasad criticised Vijayendra’s recent remarks against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
He alleged that B.S. Yediyurappa, Vijayendra’s father, had faced imprisonment in a bribery case and said it was inappropriate for the BJP to lecture the Congress on morality.
Referring to the National Herald case, Hariprasad said the matter has been pending before the courts for nearly a decade and maintained that the company is registered under the Companies Act. He asserted that there was no question of its assets being used for personal purposes.
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Hariprasad alleged that the exercise was not being carried out effectively due to a shortage of officials. He said the government should ensure that local body elections are conducted in accordance with court directions and claimed there was still uncertainty regarding the voter list.
Responding to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje’s remarks on permanent residence certificates and illegal immigrants, Hariprasad said Karnataka does not share a border with Bangladesh. He argued that if illegal immigrants had entered the state, the responsibility rested with the Central Government and the Union Home Ministry.
On Congress leader Vinay Kulkarni’s petition related to the Dharwad Assembly constituency, Hariprasad said the matter is sub judice and that he would await the court’s decision.
Commenting on recent developments in the Mudigere region, he dismissed speculation of political unrest, saying there were no anti-party developments and that efforts were being made to resolve differences among certain organisations.
