Congress targeting CM Bommai as he is from Lingayat: K’taka BJP on PayCM poster war

The PayCM poster war, spearheaded by the opposition Congress, targeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over alleged corruption charges has intensified in Karnataka. Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday alleged that the Congress launched the ‘PayCM’ campaign targeting Bommai as he is from the Lingayat community. Congress cannot tolerate a Chief Minster from the major Lingayat community, K Sudhakar said.

The Congress launched the PayCM campaign, putting out posters in public places with a QR code with a visible image of Bommai in the middle. Upon scanning, the QR Code redirects to a website 40percentsarkara.com launched by Congress 10 days ago. The posters appeared in the central region of the city resembling advertisements of digital payments company Paytm.

“Lingayat community is a politically dominant community largely backed by the BJP in Karnataka and their population is around 14 to 18 per cent in the state. CM Bommai is from the same community, hence Congress is attacking him,” the state health minister said.

Sudhakar said, “Whoever gives good governance, especially if there are strong Lingayat chief ministers, they (Congress) drag them out. People of the State are taking note of it.”

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PROBE INTO PAYCM POSTERS

CM Bommai ordered a probe into the ‘PayCM’ posters that surfaced in the city and dubbed it a ‘pseudo campaign’, which not only maligned his image but also of Karnataka.

Health minister Sudhakar said “CM Bommai is doing good administration, that is the reason Congress is targeting him. Congress had always done this. When Veerendra Patil was the Chief Minister, they targeted him. Everybody is aware of this. They always target major communities. This is not the first time. They didn’t leave Kengal Hamumanthaiah. Whom they didn’t target? Whoever becomes chief minister from major communities, this will be their constant approach.”

Further sharpening his attack on Congress, the minister said, “This is dirty politics by Congress. If they have any issue, let them come and talk directly, produce documents and then demand an inquiry. But they come to the House without any issues and proper homework. This shows the sharp decline in the values of Congress leaders.”

“What they were doing is nothing but tarnishing names without having any morality. The Congress Party is in the illusion of coming to power without having any concern for the people and by doing dirty politics. This will not happen in Karnataka as the government will take legal action against it,” Sudhakar said.

ALSO READ| PayCM row: Karnataka minister Sudhakar says Congress targetting CM Bommai as he is Lingayat

CONGRESS INTENSIFIES ATTACK ON BJP

In poll-bound Karnataka, the Congress has mounted an aggressive pitch with the ‘PayCM’ QR code campaign seeking to put the ruling BJP on the mat as it pushes to make corruption a central theme of the state’s political narrative.

The campaign targeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has rattled the BJP, which is preparing to launch a similar offensive against the Congress.

The Congress claims there were various scams, and contractors have to shell out 40 per cent commission (bribe) to secure public contracts.

BJP’s COUNTER-OFFENSIVE

Stung by the Congress campaign, the BJP launched a counter-offensive.It started ‘Scam Ramaiah’ campaign highlighting various “scams” that took place during the Congress regime led by Siddaramaiah from 2013 to 2018.

It also released a booklet, targeting Siddaramaiah (now Leader of Opposition in Assembly), saying that he ran a ‘100 per cent loot Congress government’.

(With PTI inputs)

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