Yogi Adityanath's big charge against INDIA bloc: 'Money of George Soros used to influence Lok Sabha polls'

The CM termed the alleged involvement an act by a 'traitor'.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has alleged that Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc used billionaire George Soros's money to influence the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In an interview with ANI, the CM termed the alleged involvement an act by a "traitor."

"They (Congress) did propaganda and they had not only spread propaganda, but foreign money was also involved in it. George Soros had long ago announced it... I am saying that foreign money was involved in the Lok Sabha elections throughout the country in which Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc were directly indirectly involved, and through that, they tried to influence the elections. This falls in the category of deshdroh (treason)."

George Soros established the Open Society Foundations, a global network promoting democracy and human rights.

The Open Society Foundations began operations in India in 1999, initially providing scholarships and fellowships to students.

The BJP earlier alleged that Sonia Gandhi, in her capacity as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, has ties to an organisation funded by the George Soros Foundation. According to the BJP, this organisation supports the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation, a position that the party argues undermines India’s territorial integrity.

Yogi also criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government over the four per cent Minority reservation quota bill. According to Yogi, reservation on the basis of religion is an insult to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's Constitution.

"The reservation on the basis of religion by Karnataka government is an insult to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's Constitution. What all wrong did they not do to the Constitution in 1976,” he told ANI. "DK Shivakumar is saying exactly what he has inherited from Congress's legacy.”

The Bill aims to overcome the unemployment problem in the Backward Classes and to encourage their participation in construction works, not exceeding 4% for the persons belonging to the category 2B of backward classes (Muslims), out of the total number of government construction works up to Rs 2 crore.