Congress expels Kalaburagi block president after drugs arrest | Bengaluru News

Kalaburagi/Bengaluru: Governing Congress Monday expelled Lingaraj Kanni, president of its Kalaburagi South Block unit, following his arrest by Maharashtra police in a drug peddling case.Kanni, said to be close to rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge and Congress MLA Allamprabhu Patil, was apprehended by Thane police while allegedly attempting to sell narcotic substances. Police claimed they recovered 120 bottles of banned codeine-based syrup worth around Rs 27,000. A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Bazarpeth police station, and an investigation is on.In a statement, Kalaburagi District Congress Committee, said, “Kanni has been expelled from the primary membership of Congress with immediate effect following allegations in the media that he is involved in drug peddling.”Meanwhile, BJP targeted Congress and claimed Kanni was closely associated with Priyank. Posting pictures of Priyank with Kanni, the party said on X: “The arrest of a minister’s close aide and district-level Congress leader in drug activities is a testament to the moral decay of the Congress party.” It questioned Priyank’s anti-drug campaign in Kalaburagi, asking: “Aren’t you ashamed to keep drug dealers in your circle?”Responding to BJP’s remarks, Priyank said: “Congress has acted against Kanni and thrown him out of the party. BJP has nothing else to do, so they love to malign me in every possible way. There is no denying that the person [Kanni] holds an office-bearer post in Congress. Apparently, he was trying to peddle some cough syrup worth Rs 27,000 in Maharashtra.”Priyank also questioned BJP’s stance on its members facing serious allegations. “You [BJP] have people who abuse Dalits, who rape women and a POCSO accused in you party, and you don’t want to talk about that… At least we are taking action. If they have guts let them penalise [MLA] Munirathna and party veteran BS Yediyurappa and then talk about me.”