Karnataka CM hits back at Modi for 'commission' remark

Stung by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "10 per cent commission" jibe against his government, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said Modi was, in fact, a facilitator of corruption.

"You made common people stand in queues to deposit their money in the banks (referring to the note ban in 2016) and then let Nirav Modi (billionaire jeweller accused in Punjab National Bank's fraud case) run away with Rs 12,000 crore of people's money," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

Modi on Monday raked up the commission charge and urged people to elect the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming state Assembly poll to have a "government with a mission".

"I received many calls from people after I said at a rally in Bengaluru recently (February 4) that a 10 per cent commission government was ruling the state. They said the commission was more than (10 per cent). You decide if you want a commission or a mission government," Modi had said addressing a public meeting in Mysuru.

Accusing the ruling party of ruining the southern state, Modi said welfare of the people was not a priority for the Siddaramaiah government during its five-year rule.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister for his "disparaging" comments, the Congress leader hailing from Mysuru district said: "Someone from Mysuru would have never allowed a fugitive run away".

--IANS

bha/ksk/sac