From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, June 1: “Karnataka’s BJP is the most corrupt outfit in the country,” taunted Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and warned that “We would expose all their corruption and show them our strength.”
Speaking to media persons near the City Civil Courts Complex in Bengaluru on Saturday, Shivakumar said the ruling Congress party will go all the way to expose the corrupt deeds of BJP and its leaders in the State.
The deputy chief minister said the Congress party is not afraid of the private complaint lodged by the BJP against its advertisements.
“Our advertisements and the content is based on the statements of BJP leaders and their own ministers. We are ready to prove our charges made in the advertisements against the scams during the BJP government,” he asserted making it clear that the Congress party’s claims in the advertisements were based on what BJP leaders had said in the past.
Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Basavaraj Patil Yatnal had levelled charges against the corruption deeds during the BJP rule and had openly said that “ministerial posts will not be granted without paying money.”
“He (Yatnal) had said the rate for chief minister’s post was Rs 2,500 crore and Rs 100 crore for ministerial berths. Is he not a leader of BJP?” Shivakumar said.
He said the Congress party’s advertisement that “government posts are available for money” was based on newspaper reports, which had claimed that the rates for 'A' Grade Gazetted posts is Rs 70 lac, Assistant Commissioner’s post for Rs 1.5 crore, Deputy Superintendent of Police post for Rs 80 lac, Tahsildar’s post for Rs 6-80 lac, Sub Inspector of Police post for Rs 40 lac to Rs 1.5 crore, Assistant Engineer’s post for Rs 80 lac, Assistant Forest Officer post for Rs 50 lac, SDA post for Rs 20 lac to Rs 15 lac.”
Shivakumar said the Congress party had ignored the BJP leaders when they made tall claims and levelled charges. “Now, they (BJP) have lodged a complaint by implicating Rahul Gandhi’s name because it will get traction. When they do it, can we remain quiet?” he said and pointed out that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have presented themselves before the court when the BJP leaders invited them for political fights.
He contended that the BJP had lodged a complaint against him and Siddaramaiah, when he was the Leader of Opposition in the assembly and also against Rahul Gandhi.
“As Rahul Gandhi is busy with I.N.D.I.A bloc meeting, he could not come. But I and Siddaramaiah are here in the court. We respect the court and judiciary. But we also know how to face the trumped up complaints, which will be faced legally,” he declared.
Answering questions on the alleged loot of Rs 187 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation, he made it clear that the government will not shield or protect anybody. Such incidents have happened even during BJP rule and all BJP leaders, including former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, are aware of the scams during BJP rule.
“The CID probe has been announced and the entire incident will be investigated,” he said.
To a question on why the Congress party, which demanded former BJP minister K S Eshwarappa’s resignation after a contractor committed suicide leaving a death note blaming the BJP minister, he said Eshwarappa’s name was directly mentioned earlier while Scheduled Tribes Minister B Nagendra’s name does not figure.
“If there is evidence of the minister’s direct involvement, we will take necessary action. We want the investigation to be fair and comprehensive and also recover the misappropriated funds,” he said.
Asked about the demand for CBI probe in the Valmiki Development Corporation scam, he said there is a rule for CBI probe when a certain amount of money is involved in bank frauds and the process will follow. There is no question of government handing over the case and asking for CBI probe, he said assuring that the government has no problem in getting the scam investigated.