BJP targets Congress over long-term tenders, Bidadi township project

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Saturday alleged that the Congress government had awarded a 30-year contract for Bengaluru’s solid waste management project despite having only about one-and-a-half years left in office, claiming the decision raised questions about “possible corruption”.

Addressing a gathering at a programme organised by Kayaka Samudayagala Okkoota to felicitate BJP MLC Raghu Kautilya, Mr. Ashok alleged that some multicrore tenders floated by the government were being awarded for unusually long periods despite the government’s limited remaining tenure.

Mr. Ashok also criticised the proposed Bidadi Township Project, alleging that the government was attempting to evict thousands of farmers from fertile agricultural land against their wishes. “The township project has an implementation period of 15 years, while the government’s tenure is only another one-and-a-half years. Why is it rushing to push such long-term projects?” he asked.

Claiming that the government planned to acquire nearly 60,000 acres of farmland for housing layouts and industrial purposes through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), Mr. Ashok warned that farmers would lose their livelihoods if the project went ahead.

“This Congress government must go. Otherwise, farmers will be left without land to cultivate,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra claimed that it was the BJP, and not the Congress, that had genuinely worked for the welfare of AHINDA communities.

He alleged that the Congress had come to power in the name of AHINDA but failed to protect backward classes and Kayaka communities when they needed support.

“The Congress has lost the moral right to invoke the names of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and D. Devaraj Urs. It is the BJP that has the greater responsibility of delivering justice to Kayaka communities,” he said.

Mr. Vijayendra accused the Congress of making baseless allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi because he belongs to the backward classes.

“The Congress ruled the country for decades but never wiped the tears of the Kayaka communities. Its only achievement has been creating divisions and hatred among communities,” he alleged.

He further claimed that the Union Cabinet has 27 ministers from backward classes and accused the Congress of diverting funds meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka to Telangana during the last Lok Sabha elections. “The people will teach the Congress a fitting lesson in the next election,” he added.