Siddu welcomes Modi with questions on graft, farmer plight

The former CM asked Modi why he was silent on corruption allegations against the BJP government

NT Correspondent

Mandya / Bengaluru: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down to Mandya district to inaugurate the Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway, Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the Assembly Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on the PM, flaying him over BJP’s alleged corruption and farmers’ woes in Karnataka under saffron party’s rule.

The former chief minister asked Modi as to why he was silent about corruption allegations against the BJP government, especially ones pertaining to Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Limited (KSDL) chairman and BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’ s son Prashanth getting caught by the antigraft ombudsman Lokayukta accepting a bribe of Rs40 lakh, allegedly on behalf of his father.

The bribe was supposed to in return for a contract to provide raw materials to KSDL. The other issue the LOP emphasized is the allegation made by Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) Kempanna that commissions demanded of contractors in public works cumulatively amounted to 40 percent.

Siddaramaiah added that major agricultural products had been failing due to a fall in prices and disease. The Congress heavyweight wondered aloud if Modi had changed his famous slogan on corruption: Na Khaunga, na khane dunga (will not usurp, nor allow others to).

“Did you, Mr @narendramodi , change your Na Khaunga, Na Khane dunga slogan to ‘Thum Khao, Muje bhi Khilao’? (You may usurp and slip me some gains as well)”, he said. “Mr @narendramodi, Why are you silent despite Lokayukta exposing rampant corruption done by MLA Virupaksha & his son? Do you also have a share in that corrupt money? Will a corrupt & shameless MLA of @BJP4Karnataka be able to go on a display march without the support of the supreme leader of BJP like you?, Mr @narendramodi Are all @BJP4India leaders shameless?” he asked.

Siddaramaiah even tried to soften Modi by recalling the ‘Raj Dharma’ (the ruler’s obligation) of the latter’s mentor and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had sacked Bangaru Laxman for getting caught accepting a bribe, demanding that the current PM do the same with Madal Virupakshappa.

Turmeric selling for pittance: LOP

The Congress leader alleged that Modi had been oblivious to the plight of turmeric farmers in Mandya which the PM was visiting. Siddarmaiah said that according to estimates, Rs1,43,325 was needed to grow turmeric in an acre, adding that according to the state turmeric growers union, expenditure had shot up to Rs2.83 lakh.

“An acre yields 24 quintals of turmeric. This means a farmer can survive if he receives Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 per quintal. However, a quintal of turmeric is going for less than Rs6,000. They’re not even getting MSP (Minimum Support Price). Lakhs of farmers are in distress due to this,” he said, adding that according to the Swaminathan report, farming profits must be twice the investment if agriculture is to be feasible.