Bengaluru, April 20 (Reporter) R Ashok, the Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka, has stirred controversy by branding the state as a "jihadi country" under the leadership of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. Ashok's remarks came as part of the BJP's charge sheet against the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Karnataka goes to polls for 28 Lok Sabha seats in two phases, on April 26 and May 7 in the second and third phases. He accused the Congress of indulging in appeasement politics, citing the government's attempt to withdraw cases related to the DJ Halli riots and the exoneration of suspects in the cooker bomb case. He criticised the Congress for allegedly prioritising its vote bank over justice and public safety. In a strong-worded statement, Ashok alleged that the lives of Hindus have been undervalued and compromised under the current administration. He pointed to a significant surge in crime rates, citing a 31 per cent rise in murders, a 41 per cent increase in robberies, and the registration of 17,000 cybercrime cases in the past year, resulting in a daily loss of Rs 1 crore. "Ever since the Siddaramaiah government came to power, Karnataka has become a jihadi country and the lives of Hindus have been undervalued," Ashok told reporters on Friday after releasing the charge sheet against the ruling party in Karnataka. Highlighting the government's alleged inaction, Ashok emphasised that despite a 40 per cent increase in registered cases over the last year, the state government has failed to address the rising crime rates adequately. The Leader of the Opposition condemned recent incidents of violence and lawlessness in the state, including the murder of a 21-year-old student in Hubballi, the parading of a woman naked in Belagavi, communal clashes in Shivamogga, and the Rameshwaram cafe blast. He also said that the government was "issuing passports to individuals involved in love jihad." In addition to the governance and law enforcement issues, Ashok also raised concerns about financial mismanagement by the Congress government. He claimed that the government has increased the guidance price for builders, imposing an additional burden of Rs 8 crore per builder. Ashok accused the Congress of funding public schemes using these revenues, labeling it as "looting money." "The guidance price has been increased, and each builder will have to pay Rs 8 crore to the government. Congress is giving the same money to the people in the name of guarantee schemes and is not spending the money from its own pocket. They are just looting money," Ashok stated. The BJP's allegations come at a critical juncture as Karnataka gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, with both parties competing for the support of the electorate. While the accusations raise significant concerns about governance, law enforcement, and communal relations in the state, they also highlight the increasingly polarized political landscape in Karnataka. The Congress government has yet to respond to these serious allegations, and it remains to be seen how these claims will impact the upcoming elections and shape public opinion in Karnataka...////...