Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson H.A. Venkatesh sought to refute the BJP’s charge that the drug mafia is thriving in Congress-ruled Karnataka. He claimed that there is “abundant documentary evidence” to show that several North Indian States governed by the saffron party had become “hubs” for the manufacture and sale of narcotic substances.
Reacting to the State BJP’s demand for Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s resignation in this regard, Mr. Venkatesh, in a statement here, said the Home Minister of the Congress government in Karnataka is cracking down on drug peddlers “who come from BJP-ruled States and disturb the social fabric here”.
“The BJP’s allegation that a widespread drug network is operating in Karnataka is condemnable and objectionable,” he said.
He pointed out that Mr. Parameshwara, who is also a senior Dalit leader, had clearly stated that in most drug cases detected in Karnataka, the involvement of persons from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar is predominant.
Alarmed by this revelation, Mr. Venkatesh claimed that the BJP, in an attempt to suppress these facts, had Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, BJP’s Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, release posters demanding the Home Minister’s resignation.
Published – December 30, 2025 06:51 pm IST
