Karnataka: Reacting strongly to the Governor of Karnataka recently giving permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the MUDA alternate site scam, Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the move as an act of “political vendetta” hatched by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Surjewala criticised Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s decision calling it “brazen unconstitutionality”. He accused the Governor of colluding with the political narrative of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to undermine the elected government of Karnataka. “This brazen political conspiracy has been hatched in the corridors of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs, aimed at destabilising the democratically elected government and its mandate,” Surjewala said. He asserted that the Congress party will vigorously contest the allegations through legal means. Surjewala asserted that the Congress party has received a decisive mandate from the people of Karnataka in the 2023 Assembly elections. He criticised Prime Minister Modi and the BJP for failing to accept their electoral defeat and resorting to tactics to defame the Congress-led government.
“Every attempt to destabilise the Congress government has failed and now they are using their ‘puppet governor’ to further their conspiracy,” he said. He claimed that the governor’s actions have brought a great disrepute to his constitutional post. Surjewala also alleged that the complainant involved in the case is a known blackmailer, indicating deep political manipulation. The Congress leader identified three primary aspects of the “Machiavellian conspiracy” involving the PMO, the Home Ministry and BJP leaders. These include attempts to undermine the electoral mandate of the people of Karnataka, disrupt Congress-led initiatives aimed at various social welfare programmes and tarnish the reputation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who comes from the backward class community. Surjewala concluded with a firm statement in which he said the Congress party would not allow the BJP to derail its governance or impede the implementation of its commitments, known as the ‘Congress Guarantee’, which are aimed at benefiting the state’s more than five crore residents. “We will fight this battle in the courts and the court of public opinion. Truth will prevail. Satyameva Jayate!” he declared, garnering support for the party amid growing political tensions in Karnataka. Congress’ Surjewala on prosecution of Karnataka CM
