From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 10: Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC chief D K Shivakumar on Sunday accused BJP as a “factory of lies” and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prove his charge that Karnataka government has raised Rs 700 crore from Excise Department to fund Congress party’s Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Speaking to media persons near his residence, he accused a person holding the highest post of country’s Prime Minister of “lying and making baseless allegations” and termed it as “unbecoming of his position.”

“If the prime minister has any proof, he should prove his charge and we are ready to face any punishment,” he said asking Modi to prove his allegation.

Shivakumar said he too has information on which Union Minister has “collected, how much for which election.”

“But those holding responsible positions, should not stoop to the level of making false and baseless allegations,” he said.

The deputy chief minister said the Maharashtra Congress leaders have not sought any financial help nor discussed with us.

“It is the BJP and its allies are making baseless allegations and issuing false statements on the Congress party’s guarantees in Karnataka,” he said challenging any of the BJP or its alliance partners to visit the State and verify their claims.

Shivakumar said the government is ready to provide air tickets and even arrange 30 special buses for the BJP and its alliance parties for inspection of the effectiveness of guarantees in any part of the State.

The KPCC chief said: “The very fact that the Prime Minister has resorted to speaking repeatedly about the State Congress and its successful implementation of guarantees, proves that Modi and BJP is scared of the growing strength of Congress and INDIA combine. We are not worried.”