The state of Karnataka is all set to go to polls this year, and being one of the final Congress ruled states, it is expected that the elections will be a battle where each side gives their all. Here, the Congress would be desperately trying to maintain its relevance in national politics, and the BJP in turn might push towards trying and realising its “Congress mukt bharat” dream.
One of the main forces deployed by the BJP to ensure that is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Yogi has already been addressing packed rallies in the state, which included a rally in Hubbali where he made a strong statement about the Congress worshipping Tipu Suptan instead of Hanuman and Vijayanagar.
Possibly unnerved by Yogi’s posture, the official twitter account of Karnataka Congress, put out a tweet yesterday, attacking Yogi using some NCRB data:
According to NCRB data, @myogiadityanath ruled UP, tops India in crime
– 14.5% of all crimes against women
– 12.4% of all rape cases
– 14.5% of all crimes against children
– 21.4% of all cybercrime cases
– 50% of all arms seized
– 25.6% of all SC/ST atrocity cases#HogappaYogihttps://t.co/T6tYqFyXoY— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) January 7, 2018
As seen above, the Congress’ tweet decided to portray a dismal governance record of the state contributing to 14.5% of all crimes against women and 12.4% of rape cases in the country.
Though, there was a slight problem with the data. These NCRB figures actually date back to 2016 when Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party was in power, who incidentally became an ally of the Congress during the 2017 Assembly elections in the state. Yogi only came to power in Uttar Pradesh, in March of 2017.
Incidentally during the UP election campaign, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had praised Akhilesh Yadav, which raises the question as to why was the party not revolted with the aforementioned data, during its ‘romance’ with the Samajwadi Party.
The twitter account of BJP Karnataka, soon picked up this angle and attacked the Congress:
Thank you, @inckarnataka for putting out report card of your allies – SP & BSP, who ruled UP for last 14 years & supported UPA between 2004-14. Do you realize that Yogi has been CM for ONLY 10 months & things are already improving! Being out of power for so long must be hard. https://t.co/k9taqYAN8C
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) January 7, 2018
Twitter users too chided the Congress:
This NCRB data which these Congressis are quoting is of 2016. @myogiadityanath came to power on 19 Mar 2017. So this is a self goal @INCIndia @OfficeOfRG @siddaramaiah. You guys are actually telling how bad an administrator your ally @yadavakhilesh was. https://t.co/M6MT90SXt0
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) January 7, 2018
so by quoting a 2016 report when ur ally @yadavakhilesh was in power u @INCIndia admits that thr ally was worse in law n order maintaining…
.. but want2hold @myogiadityanath as resposibl whn he came2govern in 2017… Bravo! ur logic as usual is give the culprits a clean chit! https://t.co/K6PH98p1cm— (((TimeTraveller))) (@UVerekar) January 8, 2018
So finally @INCIndia gets enlightened about achievements of their ally @yadavakhilesh good going.. https://t.co/zoZnL932M2
— A̤m̤i̤t̤ S̤h̤ṳk̤l̤a (@AmitShukla11272) January 8, 2018
Yogi Adityanath later came up with a smooth reply:
Thank you for the welcome @siddaramaiah ji. I heard number of farmers committing suicide in Karnataka was highest in your regime, not to mention the numerous deaths and transfer of honest officers. As UP CM I am working to undo the misery and lawlessness unleashed by your allies.
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 7, 2018
After such a glaring self goal, it remains to be seen whether, the Congress would be more careful in its future attacks.