Bengaluru, Jan 30 (NationPress) The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra remarked on Saturday that the Congress party, which previously secured as many as 415 Lok Sabha seats, has now dwindled to a mere 99 seats in the recent 2024 general elections.

While addressing the State Assembly, Vijayendra emphasized the necessity for the Congress to reflect on the reasons behind its dismal decline.

He drew a parallel from the Hindu epic Ramayana, stating that just as the demon king Ravana abducted Goddess Sita to Sri Lanka, the Congress has similarly "appropriated" Mahatma Gandhi's name for its political agendas.

Vijayendra claimed, "This counterfeit Congress party has even misled Mahatma Gandhi." He further asserted that the Congress had vowed to eliminate poverty with slogans like 'Garibi Hatao', yet instead has "betrayed the impoverished citizens of the nation."

As a result, he indicated, the Congress party finds itself in a humiliating predicament at both national and state levels.

The State BJP President noted that the Congress boasted 364 MPs in 1961 and reached a peak of 415 MPs in Parliament in 1984, urging the party to clarify how it has fallen so drastically.

Touching on the discussions surrounding the GST, Vijayendra mentioned the extensive exchanges regarding Karnataka's tax contributions to the Centre.

"From the statements of the ruling Congress-led Karnataka government, it seems as if the Central government has engaged in rampant corruption using the state’s tax revenue without facilitating any development at either level. This assertion is baseless," he stated.

He recalled that during the Congress's previous governance, the national discourse was dominated by scandals such as the 2G Spectrum scandal, the Coal scam, and the Commonwealth Games scam.

"There was no focus on development. Corruption was the only topic of discussion," he added.

In contrast, Vijayendra highlighted that after the BJP assumed power, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the narrative has shifted.

"Since 2014, the Congress has failed to lodge a single credible corruption allegation against the Narendra Modi-led Union government. The public is now conversing about the corruption-free governance offered by PM Modi," he elaborated.

He noted that the current focus is on achieving a 'Viksit Bharat' and enhancing India’s development trajectory.

"While debates about alleged injustices to states under GST are ongoing, the significant transformation in governance since 2014 remains unaddressed," he stated.

Vijayendra mentioned that the Centre has allocated GST revenues amounting to lakhs of crores towards capital expenditure, prioritizing infrastructure, national security, and job creation.

"Under PM Narendra Modi's guidance, the NDA government is committed to establishing a robust India with a nation-first approach," he asserted.

He remarked that the Defence budget has seen substantial increases, and highway construction is advancing rapidly.

"Legislation has been introduced to foster job creation, resulting in the emergence of nearly two lakh startups nationwide, which has led to the generation of 16.6 lakh direct jobs by 2024," he noted.

Regarding drinking water supply, he pointed out that despite ruling for 60 years post-independence, the Congress only managed to provide drinking water access to 17 percent of the rural population.

"Thanks to Prime Minister Modi’s dedicated efforts, access to drinking water has now been extended to 74 percent of the rural populace. Approximately 12 crore toilets have also been constructed under the Central government’s initiative," he added.

He emphasized the significance of national security, citing previous governments’ neglect of the Northeastern states.

"In the last decade, the Narendra Modi-led Union government has allocated Rs 6.5 lakh crore for highways and infrastructure advancements in the region," he revealed.

Vijayendra claimed that Naxalism is no longer a pressing concern in the nation.

"Prior to 2014, media reports frequently covered Maoist attacks and the fatalities of police and civilians. Maoist violence was rampant in several states. However, due to the policies enacted by the Narendra Modi-led Union government, along with enhanced infrastructure and increased job opportunities, the Maoist dilemma has been largely resolved," he concluded.