Bengaluru, March 16 (NationPress) R. Ashoka, the BJP leader and Opposition Chief in the Karnataka Assembly, has launched a fierce critique against the Congress government, accusing it of fostering an environment rife with corruption.

In his statement, Ashoka pointed out that widespread corruption is evident when top officials, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, are implicated. He emphasized that it is predictable for senior bureaucrats to engage in similar corrupt practices.

Ashoka highlighted that 195 corruption cases have been filed against high-ranking officials like IAS, IPS, and Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) personnel over the last three and a half years, underscoring the gravity of alleged misconduct under the current administration.

Citing a traditional Kannada saying, Ashoka reported that from September 2022 to February 2026, the Karnataka Lokayukta has logged 195 cases against senior officials, which include 104 cases related to raids for disproportionate assets, while 91 officials were reportedly apprehended for accepting bribes.

Using another proverb, he accused ministers and MLAs from the ruling party of plundering resources, driven by the belief that Congress will lose in the upcoming elections. He further claimed that the bureaucracy has also become complicit in these corrupt activities.

Ashoka asserted that the citizens of Karnataka will not find relief until what he labeled as the “corrupt Congress government” is ejected from power.

He referenced a report indicating that between September 2022 and February 2026, the Karnataka Lokayukta initiated 195 cases against senior officials, including IAS, IPS, and KAS members. Out of these, 104 cases pertain to investigations of disproportionate assets, while 91 cases involve officials caught in acts of bribery.

Moreover, the report noted that none of the accused officials have yet been convicted or acquitted. Investigations into 89 cases are still in the preliminary phase, with both an IAS officer and an IPS officer facing corruption allegations. Additionally, 12 officials from the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) have also been implicated.

Shifting focus to agricultural concerns, Ashoka condemned the government for its failure to ensure timely payments to sugarcane farmers. He pointed out that sugar mills are legally required to settle payments within 15 days of procurement, yet in Belagavi district, approximately Rs 1,554 crore remains unpaid post the 2025-26 sugar season, prompting fresh protests from farmers.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, if you continue to prioritize your own position over the welfare of farmers, who will address their struggles? Is your administration functional or not?” Ashoka challenged.

“You must urgently direct sugar factories to release the outstanding payments to sugarcane farmers and support them,” he urged.

Ashoka also remarked that the Union government expanded the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in 2024, covering all citizens above 70 years. However, due to the Congress government’s mishandling, senior citizens are reportedly unable to access medical care despite possessing the ‘Ayushman Vayo Vandana’ card, which guarantees health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.

“Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, your inefficient Congress government fails to launch new initiatives. At the very least, ensure that the central government’s programs are implemented effectively so that the public can benefit,” he asserted.