'Either prove, or apologise': Siddaramaiah slams Amit Shah over PFI case withdrawal allegations

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Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over allegations of withdrawing the PFI cases. Siddaramaiah said Shah should either prove his allegations or apologise for what he said.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 1, 2023 10:58 IST

Siddaramaiah slams Amit Shah over PFI case withdrawal remark

A file photo of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (PTI)

By India Today Web Desk: Karnataka Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the latter alleged Siddaramaiah's government withdrew cases against 1,700 PFI members.

Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Karnataka, where elections for 224 Assembly seats are scheduled next year, said Siddaramaiah withdrew cases against the activists of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) during his tenure as the chief minister.

"The Modi government banned the PFI and put all the anti-national elements behind bars," the home minister said.

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Reacting to Shah's remarks, Siddaramaiah took to Twitter and said, "Hon'ble Home Minister Amit Shah should either prove his false allegation or apologise for what he said was false."

"Karnataka has a BJP government. What stops Shah from looking at the government records to see which cases against PFI workers were withdrawn? Why just spew lies?," an English translation of Siddaramaiah's tweet from local language read.

?????????? @BJP4Karnataka ???????? ?????? ???. ??? ??????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????????? ??? ????? ????????????? @AmitShah ???????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ????? 3/7 — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 31, 2022

The former Karnataka chief minister further said he would release documents about their understanding in the near future.

KARNATAKA GOVT CORRUPT, ALLEGES SIDDARAMAIAH

Earlier on Thursday, Siddaramaiah accused the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in Karnataka of being involved in "corrupt" practices.

The former chief minister said it is a "300 per cent commission government".

"There are many projects like Hemavathi, Narayanapura among others, that are estimated to be worth around 800 crore, which the government has sanctioned without any work in progress. More than Rs 2,000 crore has been granted without any work in progress," Siddaramaiah said.

He further alleged that corruption is "prevailing in all departments" of the state.

"That's why they (the government) are not allowing us to discuss anything, even the Speaker is in their support. Contractors association chief Kempanna was arrested for blowing the whistle. The government has no interest in discussing, they are running away from the discussion," Siddaramaiah said.

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Published On:

Jan 1, 2023