Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/MS)
Udupi, Jul 26: Former IPS officer-turned-politician of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bhaskar Rao expressed anguish against the state BJP government over clean chit to former minister K S Eshwarappa in the Santhosh Patil suicide case.
Speaking at the press conference in the city on Tuesday, Rao said, “Earlier Congress government was termed as 10% government by the BJP. Now the state PWD contractors have confirmed that the BJP is a 40% commission government. Now Eshwarappa has been given a clean chit in the Santhosh Patil suicide case. Was that contractor not harassed at all? His wife even approached chief minister Basavaraj Bommai for justice. But no action was taken.
“The BJP government has turned too arrogant. Power has gone to their head. You all are the bhakts of Ram. But Ram will not forgive you. If nothing has happened in contractor suicide case, why was the investigation held behind closed doors?
“If Eshwarappa is made a minister again, we will go down the street and protest. There is no protection to contractors of their party also. Then how come other PWD contractors will feel secure?
“The BJP is a politically shrewd party. They instill fear in other political parties or entice them with a good offer of money or position and drag the non-BJP party members to their party. If the person refuses, they will finish his career.
“Recently, the BJP government has become a CD government. It is not for justice. The MLA, who was caught in obscene CD has gone to Delhi and is pressurising their high command to make him minister again. Some others are seeing that no more CDs are made public. What kind of government is this?” he questioned.
“We will compete in all 224 constituencies of the state. People, deprived of opportunities, are joining AAP. I came here to strengthen the party and the party workers,” he said on his visit to Udupi AAP office.
He further said, "Udupi deserves to have its own airport. The coastal districts are not developing as expected economically. There is no separate DCC bank here. Udupi has all the potential to develop tourism.
“We are the believers of true secularism not political secularism. You people have given a chance to all parties so far. The four more important visions that one should focus on are education, health, transportation and development. AAP has already occupied two states. The party has been growing in Karnataka over a period now. BJP is hardcore is Hindutva, Congress is about pro-minority and secularism, but AAP prefers peaceful society and co-existence with all communities.
“The coastal regions are divided by radicalization and polarization is on. It is poisoning the nation. Now 99% of the population wants peace,” he said.
Answering queries on PSI scandal, Rao said, “Yes, I had a hint. There was rumour that Amrit Paul will become the commissioner, when I was the city commissioner. I had questioned his frequent visits to chief minister. I knew that it was a scandal. Examination will not be conducted till the probe gets completed which is not a right decision. You are cheating youths. Let them cancel the entire exam and conduct a fresh exam.
“If a case is registered with the CID, the chief minister and home minister will be the investing officers. I was asked to conduct a court monitored investigation on this. Within 24 hours of CI, Paul got arrested. Bureaucracy is just a tool for the government of India. Lokayukta and ACB are the two anti-corruption and prevention agencies. But corruption has never stopped. Prevention of corruption is the core point in BJP’s manifesto, but what is happening today? Lokayukta should be the one to prevent malpractice. Lokapall Bill is not enforced yet because the government of India does not want it to enforced,” he said.
Diwakar Sanil, district president, Aam Admi Party, Vivekananda Salins, state joint secretary, J P Rao, Zonal head, and Aslie Cornelio, district secretary were present.