Criticising former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for announcing plans to embark on a state-wide tour, leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah, charged that the Lingayat strongman’s intentions would be to mislead the people with claims that he had emerged clean in cases of corruption rather than listen to the woes of farmers.
Speaking after hoisting the national flag at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office here on Wednesday Mr Siddaramaiah said, “At least the Congress party never stopped him (Mr Yeddyurappa) from undertaking a tour of the state. It was because of his own mistakes that he was not free to travel till the Karnataka High Court gave the green signal for his tour.” He charged that Mr Yeddyurappa had committed “several blunders” which would haunt him throughout his life. “He will not succeed in his endeavour to declare himself clean in the eyes of the people,” the Congress leader added.
The Congress leader criticized the state government over the delay in appointment of a new Lokayukta. “The delay by the ruling party is intentional, and the reasons attributed to the delay are ridiculous. It is clear that the ruling party is dilly-dallying over the appointment to protect corrupt leaders in the party,” he added. KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar, said the Congress would provide a clean administration if voted to power in next year’s elections to the Legislative Assembly.