Rahul attacks BJP

Says it created world record in corruption

A Increasing his pitch against the ruling BJP, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Shettar government of having created "a world record" in corruption and said there was no functional government in the state.

In his rallies at Haveri, Tumkur and Mysore, Gandhi on the second leg of his tour for the May five Assembly polls, said the BJP was more preoccupied with internal squabbles and its leaders fought among themselves for money. "On the issue of corruption, Karnataka government has created a world record," he said, stepping up the offensive he launched against BJP in his first leg of tour on April 23.

Accusing the BJP of "looting" public money, he said "Congress kahti hai, aapka paisa aapke haath aur BJP kahti hai aapka paisa hamare paas" (Congress says your money, your hands and BJP says your money, with us) The BJP forgot about people's welfare, Gandhi said and posed to the gathering, "Do you want such a government?"

Seeking to take the sting out of the BJP's attack on the UPA on the issue of graft at the Centre, Gandhi asked, "did not corruption in the state come to their attention." The Congress leader also spoke about the "Bellary brothers", apparently alluding to the Reddy brothers-- mining barons Janardhana and Karunakara--and said BJP came to power in the 2008 Assembly polls on the basis of their money. They (Reddy brothers) exploited iron ore resources and exported it to China, enriching themselves, thereby becoming influential, he said

He said Bangalore was a world brand due to IT sector but the last eight to nine years of rule by BJP-JDS coalition and subsequently by BJP had seen it lose its status.