Rahul, Priyanka, Shivakumar three faces of one hypocrisy: K’taka BJP

Bengaluru, July 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka on Sunday accused the Congress leadership of adopting "double standards" on accountability, alleging that the party follows one yardstick when in opposition and another when in power.

Taking objection to the statement of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar warning officials that they would be held accountable in the event of question paper leaks or irregularities in recruitment examinations, Ashoka targeted Congress leaders, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over the Karnataka government's response to question paper leak incidents and recruitment-related controversies.

"Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and D.K. Shivakumar are three faces of one hypocrisy," Ashoka said, alleging that the Congress ecosystem routinely demands resignations and lectures the nation on accountability while taking a different stand in Karnataka.

The BJP leader claimed that instead of focusing on systemic reforms to prevent future question paper leaks, strengthen recruitment processes and safeguard the interests of students, the Chief Minister had chosen to hold Deputy Commissioners accountable for such failures.

"His first instinct is not to make recruitment systems tamper-proof or protect the aspirations of students. It is to announce that Deputy Commissioners will be held accountable, creating ready-made scapegoats for every future failure," Ashoka alleged.

Describing it as the "Congress model of governance", Ashoka said the ruling party seeks to shield the political leadership while shifting responsibility to officials lower down the administrative hierarchy.

He also posed questions to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, asking why accountability "travels upward only when the BJP governs, but downward when the Congress governs."

"One country. Two standards. Moral lectures for Delhi. Bureaucratic scapegoats for Karnataka. That is not accountability. That is political hypocrisy at its worst," he said.

Ashoka's remarks come amid an ongoing political debate over accountability in cases involving examination and recruitment irregularities in Karnataka, with the opposition BJP demanding greater transparency and systemic reforms from the state government.

The Congress government has not responded to Ashoka's allegations so far.

It can be recalled that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had warned officials that they would be held accountable in the event of question paper leaks or irregularities in recruitment examinations, stressing the need for stringent measures to ensure transparency and integrity in the recruitment process.

Shivakumar said the state government is currently undertaking a major recruitment drive to fill more than 70,000 vacancies across various departments.

"The state is witnessing a large-scale recruitment exercise, with over 70,000 posts being filled. CCTV cameras must be installed mandatorily at all examination centres. Additional security should be provided for question papers," he said.

The Chief Minister directed that every stage of the examination process, including the preparation, transportation and distribution of question papers, should be properly documented to ensure accountability.

Referring to the recent NEET controversy, Shivakumar said lessons must be learnt from past incidents and warned that any lapses would invite strict action.

"Everyone should keep the NEET controversy in mind. If question paper leaks occur, the concerned officials will be held responsible," he said.

Source: IANS