Countering the BJP's charge of corruption by the Congress in the run up to elections in Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Modi for his silence on Nirav Modi, and claimed that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's daughter worked for Nirav.
The Congress president was speaking at an election rally, during his fifth visit to Karnataka ahead of the state Assembly Elections on May 12.
"Nirav Modi has run away with 30,000 crores from the Indian public. Arun Jaitley, who is the Finance Minister... his daughter works with Nirav Modi and the PM doesn't say anything," he said speaking at a rally in Shivamogga.
The statement comes at a time when the BJP is spearheading a campaign accusing the Congress government in the state of corruption.
A combative Rahul further called out BJP National President Amit Shah for corruption in his 30-minute address. “Jay Shah, Amit Shah's son turned Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore in 3 months and Modi has not said a word. He has also taken the Rafale contract away from Karnataka's HAL and given it to his friend. He has given three times the money UPA government was giving. He has given friends 40,000 crores and Modi has still not spoken about this," he said.
Amit Shah like Rahul has been extensively touring Karnataka ahead of the Assembly elections on May 12. The Congress chief's visit to Shivamogga comes on the heels of Shah's visit to the district on March 26.
Shivamogga is also the home district of BJP Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, and the saffron party is looking to bounce back from an embarrassing result in the district in the last Assembly Elections, when the party failed to win a single seat in the district. Congress and JD(S) won three seats each while Yeddyurappa, who contested independently, won in Shikaripura constituency.
Rahul also questioned Prime Minister Modi for his silence on the alleged 'dilution' of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
"Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis has increased in the country. Modi has not uttered a word on the dilution of SC/ST Act. The amount of money Modi government gives Dalits and Adivasis in the country, the Congress party gives half of that money in one state alone in Karnataka," he said speaking at an election rally in Shivamogga.
His words came in the backdrop of violence in northern parts of the country during Monday's protests against the Supreme Court’s order on ‘misuse’ of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Rahul was accompanied by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara at the rally which followed a road show that commenced from Ashoka circle and passed through through Nehru Road and Amir Ahmed Circle before culminating at Gopi Circle.
Due to the model code of conduct taking effect on March 26, there were no banners or flex boards announcing the Congress party's event.