Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Thursday, 11 June asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had delivered corruption-free governance since assuming office in 2014, contrasting his tenure sharply with what he described as a scandal-ridden decade under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Vijayendra made the remarks at a joint press conference held at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru.

Allegations Against the UPA Era

Vijayendra alleged that the UPA period was defined by a series of major controversies, citing the 2G spectrum case, the Bofors scandal, and the Commonwealth Games scam, among others. He claimed that alleged irregularities during that period amounted to over ₹12 lakh crore. In contrast, he asserted that not a single scam had occurred under the Modi government, calling it a defining achievement of the current administration.

He also alleged that Congress governments had historically failed to generate employment opportunities for millions of young people and had neglected infrastructure development in the country's northeastern states.

Modi's Governance Record: What Vijayendra Claimed

The BJP leader said PM Modi's tenure would be remembered in 'golden letters,' noting that the Prime Minister had surpassed Jawaharlal Nehru's record for the longest continuous years in office. He highlighted Modi's prior administrative experience as Gujarat's former Chief Minister as a key factor in his effective national leadership.

Vijayendra credited the NDA government with overseeing transformational changes over the past 12 years, including India emerging as the world's fourth-largest economy despite global headwinds. He also pointed to investments of more than ₹12 lakh crore in infrastructure — spanning national highways, railways, and airports — as well as growth in solar and renewable energy, access to clean drinking water, and sanitation infrastructure.

Defence, Northeast, and Anti-Naxal Efforts

On national security, Vijayendra said the Modi government had significantly increased defence budgetary allocations and had steered India from heavy dependence on defence imports toward domestic manufacturing and self-reliance. He credited Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with substantially reducing the number of Naxal-affected districts, and said skill development programmes and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) had been set up in previously affected areas to create local employment.

He further alleged that earlier Congress-led governments had neglected the northeastern states, while the current administration had improved railway connectivity, highways, and airport infrastructure in the region, strengthening national integration.

Covid Response and Global Standing

Vijayendra also highlighted India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the country had not only managed the crisis effectively under Modi's leadership but had also supplied vaccines to several nations free of cost. 'When even countries like the United States were struggling with the pandemic, India developed vaccines and supplied them to many nations free of cost,' he said.

He argued that 140 crore Indians had developed confidence in Modi's leadership and that India had secured a prominent position on the global stage despite ongoing international challenges.

Karnataka's Fuel Tax Row

Responding to a question on rising fuel prices, Vijayendra accused the state government of raising taxes on petroleum products four times since Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assumed office, alleging the hikes were designed to fund the state's guarantee schemes. He maintained that the Centre's recent adjustment in fuel prices was driven by rising international crude oil prices and was not unique to India.

Senior BJP leaders including Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol, MP P.C. Mohan, and BJP state secretary Vinay Bidare were present at the press conference. How Karnataka voters and national observers receive these claims ahead of upcoming political cycles will likely shape the BJP's messaging strategy in the state.