Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 30: BJP state president and former chief minister, B S Yeddyurappa, said that the current water resources minister has withheld bills of the contractors of his department. He said that as the new government has come into existence, the minster has been seeking payment of commission again.

Yeddyurappa was speaking after inaugurating the state executive meeting of BJP held at the palace ground here on Friday June 29. He claimed that the water resources minster has instructed officials of his department not to make payment of any of the bills relating to the projects executed by the previous government.

Without naming Shivakumar in his address, Yeddyurappa said that the contractors come to meet the concerned when their bills are kept pending, and the minister wants to collect commission then. He also said that no money is being released by the government for Indira canteen, an ambitious scheme of the previous government. He said that over Rs 35 crore is yet to be released for this scheme, duly adding that the coalition government is thinking of shelving certain schemes introduced in the past.

Yeddyurappa said that leaders as well as MLAs of both the parties running the state government are frustrated, duly adding that several legislators are thinking of leaving their parties. He advised his party leaders not to block entry of leaders from other parties for the fear of losing their own positions in the party. He called upon the party activists to bring strong leaders who evince interest in joining BJP, as leaders with high popularity can bring BJP back to power.

Reacting to the allegation levelled by Yeddyurappa, Shivakumar said he has not accepted bribe by cheque and offered to provide documents relating to Yeddyurappa, in an apparent warning to the latter. He satirically said that Yeddyurappa is dreaming about his irregularities even before he has started properly working for that department. Shivakumar, who is already facing investigation from income tax department and enforcement directorate, said he is ready to face probe by anti corruption bureau on the allegations now levelled against him.