Bharatiya Janata Party MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar shared a 20-second video clipping on Twitter claiming it to be of Congress President Rahul Gandhi exposing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s corruption.
The clip was shared by a Twitter user Jayesh Jani (@JayeshJ40945918) He picked a quote, “aam taur par ek do mantri bhrashtachar karte hain, lekin Karnataka main puri sarkar bhrashtachar par chal rahe hain” from the speech without referring to the date or context of the speech. And, taking a dig at Gandhi, said that he agrees with him for the first time.
The quote translates to ‘Generally we see one or two ministers involved in corruption, but in Karnataka the whole government is involved in corruption.’
However, the BJP MP shared the clip assuming it to be a recent one or a goof-up by the Congress President.
BOOM found that the clip is neither a recent one nor is the Congress president accusing Siddaramaiah of corruption.
The clip is from a 26 April, 2013 video of Rahul Gandhi’s public rally in Tumakuru, Karnataka.
Gandhi in his speech had launched an attack against the previous BJP government in Karnataka led by Jagadish Shettar for being corrupt and depleting people of their money. Watch the original video below (between 5:25-5:45)
While the published date on the YouTube video shows 5 June, 2013, exactly one month after Karnataka went to polls, it could be a case of late addition of the video by the Congress to its YouTube channel. The Congress ousted the ruling BJP government, ans went on to win the state elections in May 2013.
Several news articles dated 27 April, 2013 also reported Gandhi’s statements against corruption at the rally in Tumakuru. Read here and here.
Either ways, Rahul Gandhi can be heard several times pointing out to the audience that it is time for the state to vote out the ruling BJP government and restore the Congress.
Between 7 and 7:30 mins in the 10:31 minute video, Rahul Gandhi had this to say.
There is nothing lacking in this state. You have strength, knowledge and everything else. But the government here is bad. You support the Congress, bring a government of progress, bring a government of growth. Bring such a government that will build schools, build roads, talk about water and does not indulge in corruption.Congress President Rahul Gandhi
In the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly elections, both the parties have attempted to paint each other as corrupt. While the Congress have raised the issue of past cases of corruption against BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa and the inclusion of the infamous Bellary brothers in the party, the BJP has repeatedly raised the issue of the source of Siddharamaiah’s alleged ownership of a Rs 40 lakh watch.
Amit Shah and Ananthkumar, Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs have also rekindled the controversy by referring to his expensive watch as a symbol of Siddaramaiah’s corruption.
(This story was first published on BOOM Live and has been republished with permissions)
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