Bengaluru: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka "bribed" the Nehru-Gandhi family by funnelling taxpayer money to the National Herald newspaper through government advertisements.

“The Congress government in Karnataka has given more advertisement revenue to the National Herald newspaper than any established newspapers or periodicals in the country. That itself is a scam,” the Minister told reporters here.

He said, "The so-called owner of this newspaper, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, are out on bail in connection with this scam. In spite of that Congress government in Karnataka has paid Rs 2 crore in a year once (in FY 2023-24) and gave Rs one crore in another year in FY 2024-25. We don't know how much they gave this year.”

He claimed that the money has been paid to people on bail.

“That means scam-ridden people who are on bail, for them, they (Karnataka government) are paying so much. That means it is in a way bribe to the ‘Nakli Gandhi family',” the Minister said. PTI

Joshi also slammed Congress for spreading "lies" about Centre's VB-G RAM G that guarantees rural employment.

He said there is no basis behind the allegation that guaranteed jobs in the villages will be snatched and claimed there was "rampant corruption" in the erstwhile UPA-era job guarantee programme.

Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Act was recently passed by the Parliament, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA).

Congress has alleged that the new scheme will destroy jobs in rural India and will have a devastating effect on the economically weaker section in the villages.

"The Congress is lying that the VB- G RAM G will snatch the rural employment. This is a centrally sponsored scheme. VB-G RAM G is a legislation, an Act passed by the Parliament. Hence, there is no basis to say that it will take away employment. We are going to give 120 days' jobs," Joshi, who holds the consumer affairs, food and public distribution portfolio, told reporters.