Bangalore: KJP alleges huge scam in allowing private universities, liquor shops
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Mar 8: In the run-up to Karnataka’s forthcoming assembly polls, the B S Yeddyurappa-led KJP has sought to put the ruling BJP on the defensive by alleging large-scale corruption in the Jagadish Shettar regime’s decision in favour of granting permission to establish over a dozen of private universities in the State.

The KJP State Campaign Committee chief V Dhananjaya Kumar, who addressed a news conference in Bangalore on Friday, also strongly opposed the State Government’s move to grant licenses for opening hundreds of liquor shops, which also smacked of a huge scam.

The KJP leader alleged that the Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister C T Ravi have made ''good fortunes for themselves” by taking a decision to permit setting up of private universities in the State in the last few months.

The State Legislature has hurriedly passed several bills in the last few months to allow private managements to set up universities in the State.

The Opposition Congress and JD(S) had also criticised the State Government’s decision to pass bills without debate.

In a petition to the Election Commission of India, Kumar alleged that the BJP Government has proposed to sell 500 acres of Palace Grounds in Bangalore for private developer.

“It is unfortunate that Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah is also having hand in gloves with the government in the deal,” the KJP leader said.

He pointed out that the case relating to the Palace Ground land dispute was pending before the Supreme Court, which has directed the State Government to ensure that the status quo was maintained till the final adjudication of the matter.

The KJP has urged the Election Commission not to allow the government to take any major decisions at the fag end of its term, which would go against the public interest as well the State, Kumar said.

The State Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday (March 12) would also take a decision on issuing of license to set up hundreds of liquor shops across the state, which would be detrimental to the living of poor women in the society, he said.

The State Government has planned to collect bribe to the tune of Rs 250 crore by granting license to open liquor shops, the former Union Minister alleged and demanded that ''this kind of loot must be stopped forthwith.”

He said the State Government has proposed to increase the commission to liquor vendors from 10 per cent to 20 per cent with an intention to collect huge kickbacks of more than Rs 50 crore, he alleged in its petition submitted to the Election Commission.