BJP sends contractor's suicide note to Rahul Gandhi, Congress president
India TodayThe Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party escalated its demand for the resignation of Priyank Kharge, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. The party reportedly couriered the suicide note of civil contractor Sachin Panchal to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, as part of its protest. The BJP claimed that the suicide note accused Raju Kapanur, a rowdy-sheeter and close associate of Minister Priyank Kharge, of cheating him of Rs 15 lakh in a tender-related issue. “There is no comparison between the suicides of Sachin Panchal and Santosh Patil,” said Kharge, referring to the 2022 death of contractor Santosh Patil, who had accused then BJP minister KS Eshwarappa of harassment in a suicide note. Kharge questioned the BJP’s track record in handling similar cases, asking, “Did the BJP pay compensation to Patil's kin or provide jobs to his family members?” He also pointed to allegations against BJP leader Munirathna, who faces rape and casteist slur accusations, saying, “The BJP has not expelled Munirathna, which raises doubts about their seriousness in following their own slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.’” Panchal died by suicide on December 26 in Bidar district, stepping in front of a moving train.