Bengaluru, 5 April

AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that the Modi-led government and the BJP’s "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" have been exposed, as Karnataka is "denied" its rightful dues of about Rs 2 lakh crore by the Centre.

He added that the deliberate silence of the Karnataka BJP regarding the Modi government's "step-motherly treatment" of Kannadigas' rights and interests cannot remain unpunished, asserting that the BJP has "betrayed" Karnataka and does not deserve the vote.

Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP is "harmful" for Karnataka, accusing the saffron party-led government at the Centre of denying budgetary dues, blocking development, and opposing the five Congress guarantees (Shakti, GruhaLakshmi, Gruha Jyoti, Yuva Nidhi and Anna Bhagya).

"BJP has betrayed Karnataka, and it does not deserve the vote of Kannadigas," he added.

"In total, the direct loss to the people of Karnataka due to the BJP’s brazen fiscal injustice is Rs 1,97,257 crore, almost Rs 2 lakh crore. Will the BJP leaders answer before seeking votes in Davanagere South and Bagalkot?" he asked. -

Alleging the BJP's conspiracy to block agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects in the State, Surjewala claimed it is "an act of revenge" against Kannadigas.

Citing issues concerning various irrigation and drinking water projects pending before the Centre—like the Upper Bhadra River project, Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project, Yettinahole drinking water project, and Mekedatu irrigation & drinking water project—he said, "BJP leaders of Karnataka, including the union ministers of BJP and JDS, neither have the guts to question the PM nor utter a word seeking justice for Kannadigas."

The AICC general secretary said Karnataka has been denied a defence corridor by the BJP government at the Centre despite contributing 67 per cent of India's aerospace and defence manufacturing.

Karnataka has also been deliberately denied approval for DPR clearance for a "plastic park" in Mangaluru by the union government, he said.