Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, Apr 16: Chief Minister Siddaramaih’s son Dr Yathindra resigned from his post of director from Matrix lmaging Solutions on Friday thereby minimizing the impact of the controversy to some extent.
Matrix lmaging Solutions had secured contracts to run CT and MRI scan laboratory at government run Victoria hospital recently. As Dr Yathiraj was a director of this company, opposition parties had accused Siddaramaiah of nepotism. But Siddaramaiah had defended his son and himself saying, there was no favour done by anybody to grant the tender as it was given to the lowest bidder.
In an interview to a newspaper Dr Yathindra has blamed the lobby of doctors in the hospital for all the controversy saying they do not want lower charges at the hospital. Matrix had proposed to the lower the lab charges at the hospital.
Dr Yathindra said “It is very difficult to be CM’s son. I have not taken any help from him. I studied medicine on merit and built my career on my own. I was never part of any politics. When asked, my father told me that it was up to me to resign or not. I do not want my actions to affect him politically.”
Medical education minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil said that he looked into the biding process and all legal procedures concerning the tender. He said he cannot comment on Dr Yathindra’s resignation, but the tender process cannot be cancelled as there was nothing wrong legally in granting the tender.
Bengaluru: Sonia angry over lab tender, wants CM to come 'clean'
New Delhi, Apr 16 (DHNS): Congress president Sonia Gandhi conveyed her annoyance to KPCC chief Parameshwara on Friday over the controversy in awarding government contracts to a firm where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son is a director.
Taking a serious view of reports that point to cronyism, Sonia told Parameshwara that such episodes raised numerous questions and everyone concerned must act to restore the public’s faith in the system.
According to sources in the Congress, the urgency of the issue was underscored by Sonia’s act of granting immediate appointment to Parameshwara on his arrival from Bengaluru to brief her about the controversy.
The Congress president apparently wanted Siddaramaiah to come “clean” over Matrix Imaging Solutions Pvt Ltd bagging three major government contracts after Siddaramaiah’s younger son Yathindra joined it as a director.
She did not appear to be convinced by arguments advanced by Siddaramaiah and his son that the company won the government hospital’s contract for diagnostic labs as it was the lowest bidder. The company is owned by Yathindra’s friend, who is a pathologist.
Expressing unhappiness over frequent controversies surrounding the chief minister, she reportedly said these incidents have embarrassed the party.
While seeking details about the latest row, the party top brass is also learnt to have said it was high time a full stop was put to such issues which have damaged the prospects of the party.
‘No enquiry’
AICC general-secretary Digvijaya Singh said: “The whole thing is totally transparent. It was the lowest tender by the company. The file never came to the chief minister. I have not asked for an inquiry.”
“I have only advised that he (Yathindra) withdraw from the company. It is not an order, but an advice. Legally, the son does not have to quit. As a (matter of) propriety, he may,” Singh added.
But Parameshwara, who was closeted with Sonia for more than half an hour, denied discussing the issue.
While leaving for Bengaluru, Parameshwara said: “Neither Sonia Gandhi asked about this, nor did I explain anything.”