PayCM poster war in Karnataka intensifies, BJP says Congress targeting CM Bommai as he is a Lingayat leader
India Today
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday alleged that the Congress launched the 'PayCM' campaign targeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai as he is from the Lingayat community.
The PayCM poster war, spearheaded by the opposition Congress, targeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over alleged corruption charges has intensified in Karnataka. Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday alleged that the Congress launched the 'PayCM' campaign targeting Bommai as he is from the Lingayat community. Congress cannot tolerate a Chief Minster from the major Lingayat community, K Sudhakar said.
The Congress launched the PayCM campaign, putting out posters in public places with a QR code with a visible image of Bommai in the middle. Upon scanning, the QR Code redirects to a website 40percentsarkara.com launched by Congress 10 days ago. The posters appeared in the central region of the city resembling advertisements of digital payments company Paytm.
"Lingayat community is a politically dominant community largely backed by the BJP in Karnataka and their population is around 14 to 18 per cent in the state. CM Bommai is from the same community, hence Congress is attacking him," the state health minister said.
Sudhakar said, “Whoever gives good governance, especially if there are strong Lingayat chief ministers, they (Congress) drag them out. People of the State are taking note of it.”
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CM Bommai ordered a probe into the 'PayCM' posters that surfaced in the city and dubbed it a 'pseudo campaign', which not only maligned his image but also of Karnataka.
Health minister Sudhakar said "CM Bommai is doing good administration, that is the reason Congress is targeting him. Congress had always done this. When Veerendra Patil was the Chief Minister, they targeted him. Everybody is aware of this. They always target major communities. This is not the first time. They didn't leave Kengal Hamumanthaiah. Whom they didn't target? Whoever becomes chief minister from major communities, this will be their constant approach."
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