Salient points of press conference of BJP National Spokesperson Shri Pratyush Kanth

Salient Points of Press Conference of BJP National Spokesperson Shri Pratyush Kanth

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Economic Advisor and INC MLA, Raya Reddy, openly admitted during a meeting that the state has topped the charts and is ‘number one’ in corruption

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Even Karnataka’s Revenue Minister has publicly acknowledged the widespread corruption within his department

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Such is the model of the Congress-led Karnataka government that Rahul Gandhi aims to implement it across the nation

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The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association has disclosed that payments worth ₹32,000 crore are still pending, delayed due to the interference of “invisible hands”

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The real question is: Whose hand is behind this? Whose palm needs to be greased to get the funds released? In Karnataka, corruption has now become deeply institutionalized

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Karnataka today stands as ‘number one’ in appeasement politics, misappropriation of public money, large-scale scams, obstruction of development, and widespread bribery

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Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s words truly seem prophetic, as Karnataka has emerged as one of the most corrupt states in the country

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Congress made grand promises of development during the elections, but the reality after coming to power tells a completely different story. Karnataka has now turned into a hub for commission-driven deals and appeasement politics

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The corrupt regime, this corrupt government, central to Rahul Gandhi’s political project, is not going to last. The people of Karnataka will soon break free from the clutches of Congress’s corrupt governance

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Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Shri Pratyush Kanth addressed a press conference at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. During the conference, Shri Kanth accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of institutionalized corruption, citing admissions from senior officials and ministers. He criticized Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Khata-Khat’ model, claiming it has turned Karnataka into the most corrupt state. He highlighted ongoing crises, broken promises, and widespread public suffering, asserting that the BJP will continue its fight to expose and end Congress-led corruption.

Shri Kanth stated that to date, Karnataka had often been referred to as a factory or lab of corruption, but recent developments have confirmed to the people of the country that Karnataka has truly become the most corrupt state in India. Basavaraj Rayareddy, the economic advisor to the Chief Minister and also an MLA, has gone on record during a meeting and openly stated that Karnataka has become number one in corruption. This statement has not come from the opposition but from those within the government itself. Even the Revenue Minister of Karnataka has gone on record to admit that there is significant corruption within his department. Earlier, it was the Bharatiya Janata Party—its leaders and workers—who accused the state of widespread corruption, but now those in power are acknowledging it. This is deeply disturbing, as Karnataka represents Rahul Gandhi's so-called ‘Khata-Khat’ model—the very model he plans to replicate across the entire country.

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Kanth stated that the Karnataka State Contractors Association had, earlier in the day, revealed that “invisible hands” were causing delays in clearing contractors’ bills, with payments worth ₹32,000 crores still pending. This pattern of interference has been perfected by the Congress party over the years, raising serious concerns. Which hand is responsible? Which palm needs to be greased to get payments cleared? Corruption in Karnataka has now been institutionalized—only large contractors are getting their bills passed, while small and medium contractors continue to suffer. These alarming issues have now come out in the open.

Shri Kanth stated that Karnataka’s political landscape has drastically changed, with the state now ranking number one in appeasement politics. This is the kind of governance Rahul Gandhi’s model is giving to the country. The model has made Karnataka number one in appeasement, in looting and swindling of public money, derailing development, and demanding bribes for even basic services. While Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji campaigned in Karnataka, he cautioned that if Congress came to power, the state would become an ‘ATM of corruption and loot.’ The statement of the Hon’ble Prime Minister was so prophetic that Karnataka has now earned the distinction of being one of the most corrupt states in the country.

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Kanth stated that in Karnataka, corruption has become institutionalized and is now an accepted form in the state. In sharp contrast, the central government led by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji is focused on inclusive development. Whether it's infrastructure, roads, space, science and technology, or electricity, every sector is witnessing progress under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji. While the Congress party made numerous promises during the elections, claiming they would bring change and development, the reality has been the opposite. Instead of progress, the state is now plagued by scams, kickbacks, and rampant favoritism.

Shri Kanth emphasized that the Congress had promised to resolve all water-related issues, but the reality after coming to power has been starkly different. Instead of solutions, the state is now facing a series of crises, including a severe water crisis, electricity bills crisis, property tax crisis, stamp duty crisis, excise duty crises, crises regarding increased price of milk, hike in the road taxes on new vehicles, and bus fares have increased.

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Kanth remarked that despite being a hardworking and prosperous community, the people of Karnataka are suffering due to rampant corruption. The recent revelations by economic advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy have only confirmed what the BJP has consistently highlighted. Now, the truth is being exposed by the Congress party’s insiders. Through the media, a clear message must reach the people of Karnataka: this corrupt government, central to Rahul Gandhi’s political project, is not going to last.

Shri Kanth remarked that corruption is widespread across Karnataka, but it cannot be hidden any longer. Rahul Gandhi must realise that politics in India have changed under Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. Before 2014, power brokers operated openly, staying in five-star hotels and brokering deals in agriculture, health, and defence. Under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, such power brokers have disappeared.

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Kanth stated that while India is advancing swiftly, now the fifth-largest economy and on track to become the third, whereas Karnataka, under Congress rule, has slipped back into its old patterns of corruption. In Congress, politics and corruption are inseparable. Shri Kanth expressed his hope that the people of Karnataka will soon be liberated from this corrupt regime and affirmed that the law will prevail. The corrupt will face justice, and the BJP leaders will continue their unwavering fight against Congress-led corruption.

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