Salient points of the press conference of BJP National Spokesperson Shri Shehzad Poonawalla

 

Salient Points of Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Shri Shehzad Poonawalla’s Press Conference

 

‘Congress Ek Zameen Se Judi Huyi Party Hai’, wherever it gains power, it transfers land intended for SC/ST communities to its relatives' names

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Thousands of crores were misappropriated in Karnataka in connection with the MUDA scam, and now the Congress party is behaving like a professional thief. In order to escape legal consequences, Congress has even withdrawn the general consent it had earlier provided to the CBI for investigation

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Congress party is fleeing like a professional criminal. They withdrew their consent for a CBI investigation to block the agency from entering the state

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Congress party's objective has become one of engaging in corruption first, then playing the victim card after a court order and opposing agencies by any means necessary, believing that looting is their birthright

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Congress is not running a ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ but rather has become ‘Bhrashtachar Ke Bhaijaan’ a ‘Media Ko Dhamki Ki Dukaan’ and a ‘SC Samaj Ke Governor Ka Apmaan Karne Ki Dukaan’

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Is it a coincidence or a deliberate strategy that, after the emergence of substantial evidence and court rulings, Congress has blocked the CBI to conceal its wrongdoing?

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When Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi Ji was Chief Minister, various agencies investigated him, but neither he nor the Gujarat government adopted such a stance
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Besides the MUDA scam, Karnataka also witnessed the Valmiki scam, in which funds allocated for the Dalit and tribal communities were used to buy a Lamborghini and alcohol and the funds were also utilized for election purpose

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Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Shri Shehzad Poonawalla addressed a press conference at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi, on Friday. During the conference, Shri Poonawalla strongly criticized the Karnataka Congress for withdrawing its support for a CBI investigation into the MUDA scam and raised questions about the moral basis for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to continue in office. Shri Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that the Congress is not operating a ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ but rather has become ‘Bhrashtachar Ke Bhaijaan’ a ‘Media Ko Dhamki Ki Dukaan’ and a ‘SC Samaj Ke Governor Ka Apmaan Karne Ki Dukaan’.

 

Shri Poonawalla criticized the Congress party and mockingly commented that ‘Congress Ek Zameen Se Judi Huyi Party Hai.’ Wherever it gains power, it reallocates land intended for SC/ST communities to the names of its relatives. Congress party's primary function is looting once it comes into power. In Karnataka, thousands of crores were misappropriated in the name of the MUDA scam, and now Congress is behaving like a professional thief. To evade the law, it has even retracted the general consent it previously gave to the CBI for investigations. They committed corruption, and when the investigation began to target them, the Congress party withdrew its consent for action, acting like a professional thief. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Congress party's approach has shifted to stealing first and then acting with impunity. This attitude toward corruption is not just evident in Karnataka but has become pervasive throughout the entire country.

 

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Poonawalla remarked that the Congress party's primary objective had become committing corruption first and then playing the victim card after a court order. They would oppose the agencies by any means necessary to prevent them from entering, as they believed that looting was their birthright. Congress party being the party of thieves was fleeing like a professional criminal and had withdrawn their general consent for a CBI investigation to keep the agency from entering the state altogether. Recently, the Chief Minister of Karnataka has faced three strikes. First, the Governor characterized the MUDA scam as a significant scandal and agreed to its investigation. The second strike came from an order issued by the Karnataka High Court, while the third strike was from a Special Court that ordered the filing of an FIR against the Chief Minister. Despite these three strikes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress party exhibited three notable reactions. They initially questioned the judgment of the discerning and diligent Governor Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, who belongs to the SC community. A Congress leader went so far as to insult the Governor, verbally abuse him, and issue threats against him.

 

Shri Poonawalla remarked that the High Court, while vindicating the Governor, stated that the Governor made the right decision in ensuring that the sanction for investigation against the Chief Minister was approved. The High Court not only delivered a blow to the Congress but also supported the Governor's stance. In paragraph 53 of the order, the court noted that had the petitioner not been in a position of power, his family would not have received such benefits. The order further mentioned that "merely because the wife of the petitioner has indulged in these acts, legal or illegal, the petitioner cannot be said to be completely ignorant of what is happening in the life of his wife. Therefore,  its prima facie depicts stretching of the arms of undue influence and portrays abuse of power of the seat of the CM or any other post held by the petitioner.”

 

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Poonawalla stated that the High Court further mentioned, "The petitioner Chief Minister is undoubtedly behind the smokescreen of every benefit that has flowed to his wife. The benefit is prima facie due to the petitioner's position of power." The High Court clearly said that it is because the Chief Minister holds a position of power that such significant benefits have been granted to his family. Furthermore, the High Court noted, "Not a single instance has been shown where a person who relinquished land in Kesare village has been granted compensatory land in the upscale area of Mysore city." This means that the benefit has only been given to the Chief Minister's own family members. The Congress, which claims to be a party connected to the land, ensures that the benefits of the land only go to their son-in-law and wife. No individual from the SC community or any poor person received these benefits—only Siddaramaiah's wife and relatives did. Shri Poonawalla highlighted that the court has also noted that “How and why the rules were bent in favor of the Chief Minister's family must be investigated. If this does not warrant an investigation, I fail to understand what else could merit an investigation."

 

Shri Poonawalla emphasized that even after the High Court's order, the Congress party continues to question the Governor’s judgment. The second response from Congress occurred when a media reporter approached with a microphone to ask questions. Congress party that claims to run a ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’, speaks grandly about freedom of the press and speech, but when confronted, arrogantly pushes the reporter’s microphone away and questions who the reporter was to ask such questions. This clearly shows that Congress isn’t running a ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ but rather is a ‘Bhrashtachar Ke Bhaijaan’ a ‘Media Ko Dhamki Ki Dukaan’ and a ‘SC Samaj Ke Governor Ka Apmaan Karne Ki Dukaan’.

 

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Poonawalla further mentioned that the third response, which came yesterday, was that the Congress party, acting like professional looters, directly withdrew the general consent for the CBI. This move by the Karnataka Congress government reveals a guilty mindset—it’s a clear attempt to block the CBI to avoid investigation. The Congress government was formed in Karnataka in May 2023, but now, in September 2024, they suddenly claim the CBI is acting vindictively?

 

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Shehzad Poonawalla posed following questions to the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi.

 

·      If there is nothing to hide in the MUDA scam, why don’t Siddaramaiah step down as the Chief Minister, allow for a free and fair investigation. Why is it that at this late stage, the Congress has withdrawn the CBI consent? When the Congress government in Karnataka was formed in May 2023 then today why have they woken up? With so many indictments, does the Chief Minister have any moral or legal right to continue holding office?

·      Isn’t it not true that after the overwhelming evidence that has been heaped upon Siddaramaiah by the agencies and the Courts now the Congress government has blocked the CBI, so that they can evade the action of their acts of corruption?

·      Shri Poonawalla mentioned that when the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji was the Chief Minister, various agencies were assigned to investigate him. However, neither the Gujarat government nor Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi Ji adopted an attitude. During his tenure as Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji cooperated fully with every investigation. This illustrates the difference between a morally upright individual and one with a guilty conscience.

 

Shri Poonawalla further questioned that Rahul Gandhi often speaks about upholding the Constitution and respecting the Dalit community. What is the Congress party's position on the abusive remarks and threats directed at senior Governor Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot? What actions have been taken in response to this?

 

BJP National Spokesperson Shri Poonawalla stated that the Congress party is not a ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ but has instead become a partner in corruption (Bhrashtachaar Ke Bhaijaan) in Karnataka. Beyond the MUDA scam, there has also been the Valmiki scam, where funds intended for the Dalit and tribal communities were used to purchase a Lamborghini and alcohol and the money was utilized for election purposes. Yet, the Congress party shamelessly claims that a scam did happen, but it was not for ₹180 crores, rather, it was only ₹90 crores. Congress party has also been involved in the transfer scam, the rice scam. Not only has the Gandhi family been implicated in the National Herald scam, but the Kharge family's trust has committed fraud related to land for an aerospace park. A person from the SC/ST community, who should have received land for a startup, was denied that opportunity due to conflict of interest and abuse of power, with the land instead going to a family-run trust. Given these issues, the Chief Minister of Karnataka has no right to continue in office. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rush to the CBI and ED with complaints about liquor scams whenever it suits them, shouting slogans across Delhi that Kejriwal is a thief. However, when it doesn't suit their narrative, they turn around and accuse the CBI and ED. Does Rahul Gandhi acknowledge that the MUDA scam took place? Does he view the insult to the Governor as wrong? If Rahul Gandhi does not consent then without any delay, Siddamaraiah must resign and step down for a free and fair probe.

 

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