Bengaluru’s political corridors are buzzing with accusations as Karnataka BJP leader R Ashok sharply questions Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s silence on an alleged Rs 2,500 crore excise duty scam rocking the state. In a pointed attack during a press briefing, Ashok demanded answers from Gandhi, who frequently waves files in Parliament to expose national issues but stays mum when it concerns his party’s home turf.
Ashok, the Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, painted a vivid picture of Gandhi’s parliamentary theatrics. ‘Every day in Lok Sabha, Rahul brandishes files, hurls baseless charges, and cries that the nation is up for sale,’ he said. ‘He positions himself as the republic’s judge, jury, and auditor, accusing everyone else of compromise. Yet, when Karnataka’s excise department scandals surface, the show abruptly ends.’
The controversy centers on serious allegations against the Excise Department’s operations under the Congress-led government. BJP has called for a thorough probe, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s administration has stonewalled it. Ashok questioned whether Karnataka has become a ‘revenue center’ for Congress high command, with governance overshadowed by extortion rackets. ‘Are excise decisions for public welfare or to fund political coffers?’ he probed.
Kannada speakers, Ashok noted, are now asking who is bartering away Karnataka’s interests while Gandhi rants about the country being sold out. Evidence mounts with arrests of three officials, including a deputy commissioner, and complaints filed against Excise Minister RB Timmapur at the Lokayukta. Leaked audio clips purportedly capture an official demanding commissions for the minister, adding fuel to the fire.
Ashok didn’t spare CM Siddaramaiah, mocking his claim of a ‘life like an open book.’ ‘With damning documents and evidence of massive illegal activities under your nose, why the silence?’ he asked. As BJP intensifies its campaign, demanding action against Timmapur, the scam threatens to escalate into a major political showdown ahead of elections. Karnataka deserves clarity, and Rahul Gandhi’s quiet stance only deepens the mystery.