Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a stunning claim that the Congress party collected Rs 700 crore from liquor shop owners in Karnataka. Speaking at an election rally in Akola, Maharashtra, on November 9, Modi alleged that states under Congress rule, including Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka, serve as “ATMs” for the Congress “royal family” ¹.

Modi further stated that the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is rooted in corruption, multi-crore scams, extortion, and token money. He also claimed that elections in Maharashtra have led to increased “vasooli” (recovery) in Karnataka and Telangana. The PM’s remarks come ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, scheduled for November 20, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi are the main contenders ¹.

In Karnataka, the government has previously increased excise duty on liquor to raise revenue. In 2018, the state budget increased the additional excise duty on liquor by 8% ¹. However, Modi’s allegations against the Congress party have sparked controversy and highlighted the ongoing political tensions ahead of the elections.