From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 9: In a strong attack against BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel for his statement that corruption and terrorism were part of Congress party’s agenda, KPCC President DK Shivakumar said the BJP leaders must be ashamed of blaming the opposition Congress on corruption as their faces have been blackened by the series of scams that are coming to light on a daily basis.

Speaking to reporters near his residence in Bengaluru on Monday, May 9 Shivakumar asked Kateel to first wash his face before talking about others.

“Newspapers have reported details about the rates fixed for different posts in the government. There are allegations of crores of rupees being mobilized in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors, assistant professors and other posts in the government. The Contractors Association has openly alleged and even written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 40% commission in government contracts as well as rates for the CM’s post and ministerial berths,” he said pointing out that BJP leaders are unable to show their faces in public.

“Let Kateel first set his party’s and government house in order before talking about others,” Shivakumar said.

To a question on Kateel’s statement that there was no coordination between his (KPCC Chief) and Congress Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said the BJP State President must talk about his own party.

“Internal squabbling, demands and talk about change of Chief Minister and lack of coordination among ministers as well as corruption charges against the ruling party are nauseating. Kateel should first worry about his own party,’’ he said.

The KPCC Chief alleged that there strong rumours that deliberate attempts and conspiracies were being hatched to stoke communal tensions and spark clashes in Bengaluru and urged the police officers to nip the conspiracy in the bud. “I have heard rumours but have no definite information. But it is for the police to investigate and use their intelligence apparatus,” he said.

Asked about the use of loudspeakers for Azaan prayer calls in the mosques, Shivakumar said the Supreme Court has already passed its orders and the police have also issued orders. “Let the government and police enforce the court orders. Nobody wants to flout the court orders,” he said accusing the BJP and the State government of “creating unnecessary controversies’’ to spark communal clashes and polarize the people on the basis of religion ahead of elections.

He demanded Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra to discharge their duties and uphold the rule of law and curb the anti-social elements trying to create communal clashes.