Sting operation: Congress damaging reputation of Dakshina Kannada, says BJP

Seeking a comprehensive investigation into the alleged sting operation targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the BJP said on Saturday that the Congress had damaged the reputation of Dakshina Kannada as Mr. Siddaramaiah has identified Kripa Alva, KPCC spokesperson who hails from Dakshina Kannada, as one of the two persons involved in the operation.

Addressing presspersons, Satish Kumpala, president of BJP Dakshina Kannada unit, said that Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said that the woman leader was keen on securing a Congress ticket to contest from Puttur Assembly constituency and she had joined hands with the head of a media organisation to carry out the operation.

“This arises a question whether there was any link to the sting operation and fielding of the particular Congress candidate from Puttur Assembly constituency in the last Assembly election,” Mr. Kumpala said.

The BJP leader alleged that the State government led by the grand old party has ignored the development of gram panchayats by not releasing grants. The State has not released grants even for minor repair works in the jurisdiction of gram panchayats, he alleged.

“The gram panchayats are surviving with the grants of the Union government particularly from the 15th and 16th Finance Commission grants,” he claimed.

Mr. Kumpala said the government has resorted to unscheduled load shedding in the rural areas of Dakshina Kannada. On the other hand, the State government had failed to implement VB-G RAM G properly in Dakshina Kannada, he alleged.

The BJP leader alleged that the State government had hiked the drinking water tariff of gram panchayats and cut the pensions of social security pensioners.