SHIVAMOGGA
BJP MP B.Y. Raghavendra launched a sharp attack on the Karnataka state government, alleging that ministers are extorting money from officials under the pretext of Bihar elections, turning governance into a system of exploitation. Speaking in Shivamogga, he claimed that cabinet ministers are pressuring bureaucrats to contribute funds for Bihar polls, with officials openly admitting to the coercion. While transfers may have been completed, Raghavendra said the focus has shifted to “renewals,” where department heads collect cash, which he asserted never reaches Bihar but is diverted according to the ruling elite’s directives.
Raghavendra drew attention to worker distress, citing incidents including a man in Neeruganti who committed suicide due to unpaid wages, a woman who drowned during a survey, and an ST Corporation officer in Shivamogga who also took his life. He criticized the government for failing to instill ethics in the police, making honest service impossible.
He also pointed out unfulfilled promises, highlighting a complaint at Bengaluru’s Lalbagh where a woman had not received Gruha Lakshmi funds for months. “The Congress lured voters with guarantees but is now failing to deliver,” he said.
Raghavendra further accused the ruling party of targeting the RSS, citing disparaging remarks and delays in permissions, and criticized leaders like Priyank Kharge and Hariprasad for seeking cabinet favor through political posturing. He questioned the government’s approach when ministers suppress cases against those who attacked police stations.
He compared the current situation to the Chittapur incident, where complaints about office maintenance during Diwali were dismissed, underscoring what he called systemic corruption and misuse of power under the guise of elections.