“A Thief is a Thief…”, Union Min Joshi’s Sharp Dig at Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, took a sharp dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, stating that “a thief remains a thief, even if he returns the stolen goods.” This remark was made in response to Siddaramaiah’s recent announcement that he would return the 14 sites allegedly allotted to his family.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the ‘Mysuru Chalo’ padyatra, Joshi emphasized that returning the sites does not absolve Siddaramaiah of wrongdoing. “He should face legal action and be punished according to the law,” Joshi declared.

The Union Minister also challenged Siddaramaiah’s claim of a spotless political career, arguing that his entire tenure is riddled with “black marks.” Joshi further mocked the Congress-led event, dubbing it a ‘Dhanandolan’ (money-related movement) rather than a ‘Janandolan’ (people’s movement).

Joshi accused Congress leaders of accumulating wealth through corruption and funneling it to the party’s high command. He also hinted at internal discord between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, despite their public show of unity.

In a pointed criticism, Joshi rejected Siddaramaiah’s claims of being targeted for his status as a backward class leader. “He diverted funds meant for SC and ST communities,” Joshi said, referring to the Tribal Welfare Board case. He alleged that corruption is ingrained in the Congress party’s DNA, particularly when it comes to dealing with SC, ST, and OBC communities.

“Look at how they treated Charan Singh. The party has never put forward an OBC candidate for the Prime Minister’s position. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who comes from a backward class, is leading the nation for the 11th consecutive year,” Joshi concluded.