From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 25: “Karnataka Contractors Association President Kempanna, who had disclosed on Wednesday that Horticulture Minister Munirathna was one of the ministers who demanded money out of the 40% commission, did meet Congress Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday but not met him or me even once during the last one year,’’ claimed KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons near his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday, Shivakumar asked Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to clarify as to why he had met Kempanna if he was a Congress agent as alleged by him.
Shivakumar said: “Speaking according to their convenience has become BJP’s habit and standard practice. The Raitha Sangha of Chamarajanagar have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the Kolar district in charge minister (Munirathna). They have also given me details of their complaint.’’
The KPCC Chief challenged State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel to ask his government to conduct a probe into the allegations and complaints of 40% commission by the Contractors’ Association to Prime Minister Narendra Modi one year ago. “Let them conduct a probe or order judicial inquiry,’’ he said ridiculing the demand for furnishing evidence.
He also wanted to know why the Chief Minister is silent when his own party leader Basvaraj Patil Yatnal has raised the corruption issue. Why no case has been registered against Yatnal if the allegations by a senior BJP leader are baseless, he asked.
The KPCC Chief said the ruling BJP is welcome to organise Janotsavas at 7 or 8 places or even more. “We will also organise their corruption Utsavs. It is our duty as Opposition to speak about the corruption charges and commission demands voiced by the Contractors Association. Should we not talk about the State’s development,’’ he asked.
After the PSI recruitment scam, details of KPTCL recruitment scam are coming out. Details of commission scandal in Education Department are also coming to light. Why isn’t the government or the police releasing the details of the interrogations of those arrested persons in the police sub inspectors’ recruitment scam? Why only a few officers and candidates are made scapegoats and arrested? The government is protecting the ministers involved in the scam, he charged.
Shivakumar said the family members of the Belagavi contractor Santosh Patil, who committed suicide in a lodge in Udupi sending messages and suicide note accusing the former Rural Development and Panchayat Minister K S Eshwarappa as being responsible for his death due to non-payment for the works carried out over commission payment, have already filed a writ petition challenging B Report absolving Eshwarappa.
“Even before an FIR was registered in the case, the Chief Minister and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra have given a clean chit to the former minister. After this certificate, can the police conduct impartial and fair investigation,’’ he asked.
Shivakumar said the accused minister was similarly given a clean chit even before the investigation and the Supreme Court has given a stay order to the B report. “Our party leaders have disclosed information that the same minister owed Rs 600 crore to the Cooperative Banks,’’ he said and wanted to know why the Chief Minister or the Cooperation Minister S T Somashekhar were silent on the issue.
Answering questions on CBI notice to Vijay Mulgund, State Congress Secretary, Shivakumar said: “Yes, Vijay Mulgund is close to me. The CBI has served notices to 70 to 80 persons close to me or had business dealings with me. I haven’t spoken about this because this has to be challenged legally. I have already filed a petition in the High Court that I should be given time till the Assembly polls and will face whatever action and legal proceedings later.’’
The KPCC President that he has information and documents about the irregularities and illegal assets of BJP MLAs and Ministers. “Let the acquisition of illegal wealth by these people and their family members be probed. I will raise all these issues at the appropriate time,’’ he warned.
Shivakumar said he firmly believes and respects the rule of law. “I know about my honesty and integrity. Let them do anything. I am prepared to face everything legally. They have seized my property claiming it is illegal. They have also seized my mother’s property. If this is not conspiracy against me, what else is? There is a limit for everything. They can misuse the official machinery and harass me. I respect the judiciary and its independence,’’ he asserted.