QR-code posters have CM's image and level charges of corruption against BRS government, accuse KCR of demanding 30% commission.
In a scathing counter-attack, the Telangana wing of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has launched a poster war against the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, accusing him of being the most corrupt CM in the country.
“Book my CM”, “Deals available”, “30% COMMISSION” — these were the words on one of the posters plastered across bus shelters, compound and temple walls, and other places in various parts of Hyderabad on Monday, 18 September.
With KCR’s image in the centre, the QR-code posters levelled the charge that the KCR-led BRS government is corrupt and demands a 30 percent commission on projects.
Another poster, again with KCR’s photo, read “SCAM 2023”. The BRS leader is shown wearing glasses with “30%” written on them, pointing to the same allegation. “For better experience, use 3D 30% Glass,” the poster read.
The posters are a clear riposte to the ones put up by BRS supporters — which called the Congress Working Committee (CWC) the “Corrupt Working Committee” — ahead the two-day meeting of the party’s highest decision-making body.
The poster campaign is also quite akin to the one the Congress ran in Karnataka against the previous BJP government — “PayCM” — before the Assembly elections.
The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) first raised the charge, alleging that the officials were demanding 40 percent commission for government projects. The “PayCM” campaign, too, used QR codes to level allegations of corruption against then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP.
The posters, which have been put up across Hyderabad, have the slogan “BOOK MY CM” and show the CM’s face with a barcode scanner.
The Indian Youth Congress has alleged that the chief minister has been seeking 30 percent commission in every project and scheme in the state.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the IYC claimed, “Booking Telangana CM has now become easy. Just give 30% and get your favorite Government deals at any price.”
Booking Telangana CM has now become easy. Just give 30% and get your favorite Government deals at any price.#BookMyCM pic.twitter.com/DvyqcS3POR
— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) September 18, 2023
Telangana Youth Congress President Shiva Sena Reddy told South First, “He is looting public money. Whether it’s any land project, or similarly any other project, CM KCR and his ministers demand 30 percent as cut to pass the project. They are not just corrupt but dictatorial also.”
He alleged that the Telangana government even took 30 percent commission to complete Mission Kakatiya, a state government scheme to restore all the minor irrigation tanks and lakes in Telangana.
“The poster war is aimed at exposing chief minister KCR’s misdeeds and demanding his resignation,” Reddy said.
Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress veteran leader Siddaramaiah, who was elected in May this year, took decisive steps to address allegations of corruption and malfeasance against the previous BJP government.
He ordered a comprehensive inquiry on 11 August to investigate the “40-percent commission” allegations against the previous BJP government.
The “40% commission” row erupted in April 2022, after Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil accused former state minister and BJP leader KS Eshwarappa of demanding 40 percent commission for a government project.
Several contractors also raised similar allegations against government officials after Patil’s claims.
Similarly, the KSCA had launched a massive protest alleging corruption in various government departments and non-payment of bills by the state government.
Hyderabad is not new to political parties locking horns in poster slugfests.
Ahead of the meeting of the two-day Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Hyderabad on 16 and 17 September, the ruling BRS took a swipe at the grand old party through posters that popped up across the city.
One of the posters, which called the CWC the “Corrupt Working Committee”, highlighted the pictures of 24 Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and top party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
The posters featured the leaders and mention the alleged cases of corruption that they faced.
At the bottom of the poster, beneath the pictures of the Congress leaders, the poster read: “Beware of Scamgress scammers”.
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