Bharat Jodo Yatra: Karnataka cops detain Congress party workers for wearing 'PayCM' t-shirts

Mandya: Mandya Police detained a few congress party workers for wearing t-shirts with 'PayCM' printed on them during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra on Friday, October 7, 2022. The Bharat Jodo Yatra- led by the former president of congress Rahul Gandhi- resumed from K Mallenahalli in Karnataka's Mandya district on Friday. A huddle of party workers and supporters was moving behind Rahul Gandhi with some party workers wearing 'PayCM', 'PayAshwathnarayan', and 'PayEshwarappa' printed on them. Following this, the Mandya Police detained a few congress party workers wearing those t-shirts here.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Mandya Police detain a few Congress workers who were seen wearing t-shirts with 'PayCM', 'PayAshwathnarayan' and 'PayEshwarappa' printed on them, during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra. pic.twitter.com/He56IDOcni — ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2022

"PayCM" is an aggressive campaign launched by Congress against the Basavaraj Bommai government, accusing it of massive corruption. The PayCM campaign appears to have started on September 21, when posters featuring Bommai surfaced in Bengaluru. These posters had a QR code with the message "40 per cent accepted here".

Once scanned, the QR code would take people to a parody "40 per cent Commission Government" website launched recently by Congress. If any, people would then be asked to file their complaints against the chief minister. However, the Karnataka government has dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

Earlier this month, a Congress worker was made to take off his t-shirt that featured the "PayCM" poster during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and an FIR has also been registered against him at the Chamarajanagar police station.

After which, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar dared the state government on Sunday to act against him and former CM Siddaramaiah for wearing the "PayCM" t-shirt, alleging that several party workers were booked for wearing the same t-shirt during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

"The government is sunk in 40% commission. All sections including farmers are suffering. On the one hand, there is corruption and unrest, on the other hand, there is the problem of farmers and unemployment. An atmosphere of fear has been created among the people," Shivakumar alleged.