In a recent development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. The criticism came as the Congress party initiated a crowdfunding campaign titled ‘Donate for Desh’ ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the two leaders of traveling in a private jet while the party was seeking donations.
Malviya highlighted the apparent contradiction between the Congress’s call for donations and the luxurious travel of the Karnataka leaders. He posted a video on social media showing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah enjoying what he termed as ‘happy moments’ in a private jet on their way to Delhi to seek drought relief funds from the Centre.
The BJP leader expressed his irony-laden criticism, stating, “On the one hand, Congress is pretending to crowdfund… on the other, Zameer Ahmed Khan is flaunting his pictures with CM Siddaramaiah in a private jet.” Malviya emphasized the need for responsible governance in Karnataka, accusing the Congress of continuing its “loot” while the state grapples with mis-governance.
Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi echoed these sentiments, pointing out the state government’s purported lack of funds for drought-affected farmers and development projects. Ravi criticized the government’s allocation of funds for the chief minister’s luxury travel, questioning the priorities of the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the video showcasing the private jet travel was originally posted by Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan himself. The footage depicted the minister and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sharing ‘happy moments’ during their journey from Delhi to Bangalore. The post was accompanied by a caption expressing pride in traveling with the Chief Minister.
In response to the BJP’s criticism, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge defended the party’s crowdfunding campaign. He highlighted that this was the first time the Congress was seeking donations directly from the public, drawing a parallel to Mahatma Gandhi’s approach during the freedom struggle. Kharge emphasized the need for financial support from the public to empower the party in creating a more equitable India in terms of resource distribution and opportunities.
As the political discourse intensifies, the contrasting images of leaders enjoying luxury travel and the call for public donations have sparked debates on the priorities and transparency of governance in Karnataka.
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