Rahul points to Rs 1,800 cr Karnataka ‘bribe’, says BJP leaders corrupt

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused all BJP leaders of being “corrupt” and cited a media report that claimed former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had allegedly paid bribes to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore to top party leadership. The Congress also sought a probe by the Lokpal into the episode.

“All ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen) of the BJP are thieves. NoMo. Arun Jaitley. Rajnath Singh,” Mr Gandhi tweeted, tagging a report by The Caravan magazine that cited a diary of Mr Yeddyurappa containing details of the alleged pay-offs to senior BJP leaders.

The BJP rejected the Congress’ allegation against Mr Yeddyurappa as “falsehood” with its president Amit Shah asserting that the Opposition party’s campaign is in a “shambles” and it is relying on “forgery” in desperation.

“The few loose sheets” the Congress is citing to attack Mr Yeddyurappa are as “credible and reliable as Gandhi’s leadership skills”, said Mr Shah.

At a press conference earlier, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come forward and clarify whether bribes to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore were taken by BJP leaders or not.

“Prima facie, this is a case of investigating all BJP leaders, right from the PM and downwards. It is a fit case to be investigated by the newly-appointed Lokpal,” Mr Surjewala said.

The Congress leader also read out the transcript of an alleged conversation between Mr Yeddyurappa and a BJP leader alluding to the bribery.

“The diary with B.S. Yeddyurappa’s signature on it was with the income-tax department since 2017. If that is the case why did Modi and the BJP not get it investigated,” he said.