Karnataka BJP hits back at KPCC over Modi resignation demand on Ayodhya row
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday, 8 July launched a sharp counter-attack on the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), dismissing its resolution demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation over the alleged theft of cash offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Temple as 'absurd, irresponsible and laughable.'
What Vijayendra Said
In a formal statement, Vijayendra turned the Congress demand back on the party itself, alleging that it was the Congress leadership — not the Prime Minister — who owed the public accountability. 'The KPCC's resolution demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation over the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation issue is the height of irresponsibility and is utterly ridiculous,' he said.
He alleged that Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi should instead step down — Gandhi from the Rajya Sabha over the National Herald case, and Gandhi from the Lok Sabha given his constitutional post. Vijayendra claimed the National Herald case involved properties worth around ₹5,000 crore built through the efforts of freedom fighters.
UP Government's Response Cited
Vijayendra was categorical that the Ayodhya Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust is an independent body and that the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had acted swiftly once allegations of donation theft surfaced. 'The moment the alleged donation theft came to light, the Uttar Pradesh government treated the matter seriously, ordered an investigation and ensured that the accused were arrested. A transparent and impartial investigation is currently underway,' he said.
He contrasted this with what he described as the Karnataka Congress government's alleged attempts to shield corruption within its own ranks, citing the MUDA site allotment scam and the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation case.
The CBI Double-Standards Charge
Vijayendra also accused the Congress of adopting contradictory positions on central investigative agencies. He noted that when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probed the MUDA and Valmiki Corporation cases in Karnataka, Congress leaders had publicly accused these agencies of political bias. 'Today, the same party is placing its trust in the CBI. This exposes the Congress' double standards,' he alleged.
He further questioned why the Congress continues to oppose a CBI probe into the MUDA case before the courts, if it genuinely trusts the agency in the Ayodhya matter.
Political Context
The KPCC resolution and the BJP's counter come amid an already charged political atmosphere in Karnataka, where the ruling Congress government and the BJP-led opposition have been locked in a sustained war of words over multiple alleged corruption cases. This is the latest escalation in that ongoing exchange, with both sides invoking central investigative agencies and national-level leaders to score political points. Vijayendra concluded by asserting that the Congress 'has no moral standing to point fingers at anyone' and that no campaign could 'diminish the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.'