Congress counters BJP; slams BS Yeddyurappa

Under relentless pressure from the opposition on allegations of corruption in 2G spectrum allocation, Congress sought an escape route on Wednesday by launching a counterattack on BJP.

As more details of Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s role in land allotment allegedly to his kin emerged, the party targeted BJP’s “double standards”.

“The fact is for the past two years, the BJP rule in Karnataka has been an unending saga of corruption. But all we get from BJP leaders is silence on Karnataka and lectures on morality for the rest of the nation,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said.

“The levels of corruption in Karnataka are such that no state agency can ever conduct a proper inquiry into it. Only an independent agency can handle this job,” he said, demanding that Yeddyurappa step down immediately.

On the Supreme Court’s observation regarding the prime minister’s (PM’s) 11-month silence on sanctioning former telecom minister A Raja’s prosecution, Tewari said the government would file a proper reply in the court tomorrow (Thursday). Tewari contended PM acted with alacrity on the issue of 2G spectrum scam.

“He sought the telecom minister’s resignation even before the CAG report having adverse references to the minister was tabled in parliament,” he said, while refusing to join issue with BJP leader LK Advani who has demanded a public response from PM.