Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines, Pralhad Joshi, launched a fierce political assault on the Indian National Congress on Sunday. He branded the grand old party as an entity that has become synonymous with corruption in the public eye.
A Scathing Indictment from a Senior BJP Leader
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader did not mince his words. He accused the Congress of having institutionalized corruption during its long tenure in power at the Centre. Joshi argued that this perception is now deeply ingrained in the minds of the Indian electorate.
The minister specifically targeted the Congress government in Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He connected recent enforcement actions to his allegations, stating that the Income Tax department's raids on contractors and a state minister's son are a direct consequence of the ruling party's culture.
The 'PayCM' Campaign and IT Raids
Joshi pointed to the controversial 'PayCM' campaign that went viral on social media as evidence of the public's belief in Congress-led corruption. The campaign, which featured QR codes on posters allegedly linking to a 'commission' system, was a major point of political contention.
"The Congress has become synonymous with corruption. Wherever they go, corruption follows," Joshi stated emphatically. He highlighted that the recent IT raids, which reportedly uncovered unaccounted cash and assets worth crores of rupees, validate the BJP's longstanding accusations against the state government.
The Union Minister dismissed the Congress's counter-allegations against the BJP as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from their own scandals. He framed the enforcement actions as lawful and necessary, not political vendetta.
Political Repercussions and the Road Ahead
This sharp criticism from a central minister is set to intensify the political feud in Karnataka. The state has become a key battleground where both national parties are testing their narratives ahead of future elections.
Joshi's remarks serve a dual purpose: to keep the pressure on the Siddaramaiah government and to reinforce the BJP's core campaign theme of presenting itself as a party committed to clean governance versus a corrupt opposition.
The Congress is yet to issue a detailed response to these fresh allegations from Joshi. However, the party has previously denied all corruption charges and accused the BJP of misusing central agencies to target opposition leaders. This war of words is likely to escalate further in the coming days, keeping Karnataka's political landscape in a state of high tension.
