In Karnataka, the court accepted the petition against Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders and sent a notice. In the case filed by BJP, Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were summoned by the City Court to appear in person on March 28. Special Judge J. Preet also directed to register a criminal case against the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and others.
In Karnataka, there is an unexpected action in the BJP’s case that the Congress leaders had issued false advertisements against the party leaders, including Basavaraj Bommai, who was the Chief Minister of the BJP. With the addition of criminal cases, this will become one of the biggest lawsuits facing the Congress in the country. In the Karnataka assembly elections last year, the Congress had accused the BJP of 40 percent corruption. The twin engine government ran a public advertisement claiming that 40% of the government funds had been corrupt.
Also, Congress ran a smear campaign by displaying ‘PACM’ posters with pictures of the then BJP Chief Minister all over the city. Congress published a ‘corruption rate card’ against the previous government. They have not released any document or evidence to support such campaigns by Congress. Due to this campaign by Congress, BJP’s popularity fell in the last election and Congress won.
The Congress won the Legislative Assembly by running such a fake campaign. Now, the BJP has filed a defamation case against the Congress leaders after the assembly elections, alleging that the advertisements have damaged the party’s image. BJP lawyer Vinod Kumar argued in the court that the false advertisements had damaged the reputation of the BJP. After hearing the arguments, the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court ordered the Congress leaders to appear on March 28 in connection with the case.
The petition against the Congress said that such campaigns against the BJP were made public and on the front page of all newspapers. These campaigns against the BJP are completely fictitious and imaginary.
Allegations have been made in various other matters like Covid supplies, PWD contracts, mutt etc. Departments grants, procurement, egg distribution and road contracts also commissions are mentioned as percentage between 75-30%. “Congress has given this advertisement in various newspapers like Hindu, Indian Express, Times of India, Vijayavani, Vijaya Karnataka etc.
In Karnataka, Hull Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are accused in this case. Before the Lok Sabha elections, there has been a case of holding the leaders in the dock. As the BJP has raised the exact evidence in the case in the court, if there is a verdict against the Congress, the future of the Karnataka government will be affected. Election Commission will intervene if it is judged that the election was won by fake campaign. And may even lead to annulment of election victory.
The BJP is targeting the Lok Sabha elections itself. BJP aims to stop Congress from making such allegations in Lok Sabha elections.
