War of words
Amit Shah on Friday came out all guns blazing to defend senior party leader BS Yeddyurappa. A media report had alleged that Rs Rs 1800 crore were paid by former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to the BJP's top brass.
Shah tweeted,
After all the fake issues have collapsed, the desperate are now relying on forgery.
— Chowkidar Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 22, 2019
The Congress campaign is in shambles. Now even forgery can’t save them.
Few loose sheets given by a Congress minister, is only as credible and reliable as Rahul Gandhi’s leadership skills.
Amit Shah said, "After all the fake issues have collapsed, the desperate are now relying on forgery.The Congress campaign is in shambles. Now even forgery can’t save them.Few loose sheets given by a Congress minister, is only as credible and reliable as Rahul Gandhi’s leadership skills."
On the other hand, Congress sought to make it a big issue with Rahul Gandhi tweeting, "]
BJP ke sare Chowkidar Chor Hai.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 22, 2019
NoMo
Arun Jaitley
Rajnath Singh
——-
——-
——- https://t.co/jRmdkYjAhg
Earlier Congress party in a press conference said, "The diary with B S Yeddyurappa's signature on it was with the Income Tax Department since 2017. If that is the case why did Modi and the BJP not get it investigated," "Has the Modi government refused permission to order a probe into the pay-offs? Is the diary not proof of corruption by the BJP leadership".
CBDT in a statement has explained that some materials were recovered during a probe at DK Shivakumar's house. However, Shivakumar couldn't vouch for the authenticity of the documents although he had claimed it belonged to Yeddyurappa.
With agency inputs
1. What is the allegation?
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Citing a news magazine report, the Congress alleged that some top leaders of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had received Rs 1,800 crore from Yeddyurappa.
Allegedly, the diary is in possession of Income Tax officers since 2017 when they got it during a raid. Congress alleges that Income Tax officers have tried to approach Arun Jaitley for an ED enquiry and forensic examination, but nothing happened. The matter is languishing so far, according to Congress with inaction from the government.
2. Yeddyurappa's response
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Former Karnataka CM said, "The Congress party and its leaders are bankrupt of issues and ideas. They do not have any development issues to discuss in public. They are frustrated with the growing popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP".
Yeddyurappa said that an inquiry had found the documents, as cited by Congress is 'fake'.
"I.T. (Income Tax) department officials have already probed the issue and found that the documents and signature and handwritten notes are forged," the former Karnataka Chief Minister said.
"The Congress leaders are apt in carrying out all these atrocious and malicious campaigns. They planted the story in the media to gain political mileage in the coming elections, I am discussing with my senior advocates to file a defamation case against the concerned persons," the BJP leader said.
3. Siddaramaiah's reaction
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Yeddyurappa's arch-rival and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has reacted to the entire controversy.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah on BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa's statement 'Congress is planting the story to gain mileage in the upcoming elections' : Any person against whom allegations are made, have you come across any person who will own it like that only?
4. Possible political implications
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JD(S) and Congress are fighting the elections together and they are looking to reduce BJP to a single figure in a state where saffron party won 17 in the last election.
Yeddyurappa remains BJP's most dominant political figure and it remains to be seen if this issue affects him politically. Also going by the robust support he has got so far, Yeddyurappa looks set to easily escape this political controversy.
