In a sharp political retort, Karnataka's Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has challenged Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to address the alleged lack of transparency surrounding the PM CARES Fund and the electoral bonds scheme, instead of targeting the Congress over advertisements to the National Herald newspaper.
A Counterattack on Financial Transparency
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Friday, Rao turned the tables on the BJP's criticism. He asserted that while the BJP makes allegations about state government advertisements to the National Herald, it remains silent on more significant financial matters. Rao demanded that Joshi explain the funds collected through the PM CARES Fund and the alleged misuse of thousands of crores of rupees.
"The PM CARES is a private fund. Why were all government employees asked to contribute?" Rao questioned. He accused the ruling party of misusing the Prime Minister's name and even the national emblem for the fund. "Why was Joshi silent on this?" he asked, highlighting what he sees as a double standard.
Electoral Bonds Labeled a "Major Scam"
Responding to a query, the minister launched a direct attack on the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme. He alleged that crores of rupees were looted in the name of electoral bonds, calling it "one of the biggest scams" in the country. This allegation forms a core part of the Congress's ongoing criticism of the BJP-led central government's financial management.
Defending National Herald's Legacy
Rao came out strongly in defence of the National Herald, providing historical context to the controversy. He stated that the newspaper has a historic background and played a major role in India's freedom movement. He described it as a non-profit structure and accused the BJP of attempting to divert public attention by making allegations against it.
"The state government has been releasing advertisements to several newspapers on a daily basis," Rao clarified, normalizing the practice. He contrasted the scrutiny on the National Herald with the operations of the RSS. "Though the RSS has been running several institutions and raising funds, no one is questioning it," he pointed out, alleging selective targeting.
Rao concluded by stating that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are being harassed in the name of alleged irregularities related to the National Herald, framing the BJP's actions as politically motivated.
