From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 6: Senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal’s claims on payment of Rs 2,500 crore for the chief minister’s post and Rs 100 crore per ministerial berths in the ruling BJP in Karnataka must be subjected to a high level probe, KPCC Chief D K Shivakumar demanded on Friday, May 6.

Speaking to media representatives at the State Congress office, Shivakumar said Yatnal’s charge on ‘’sale’’ of chief ministers and ministerial posts on hefty payments was a very serious issue and must be debated at the national level.

Shivakumar said Yatnal was a former union minister and sitting BJP MLA and his charges that ruling party MLAs were awaiting ministerial berths as well as key posts in the state BJP and demanded that the issue needs to be seriously taken up by BJP national president J P Nadda.

The KPCC president alleged that rates have been fixed for posts of police sub inspectors, assistant professors as well those in different departments in the BJP rule in the State.

He pointed out that Prof Ashok Kumar had committed suicide over the appointment of vice chancellor in the Bangalore University. However, the BJP regime gave a clean chit to the accused in the issue.

Shivakumar urged the Anti-Corruption Bureau to take up a suo motu case on the allegations levelled by BJP leader Yatnal and take up the investigations.

The KPCC chief demanded that the State Government must pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to all bereaved families which lost their members to the Covid pandemic.

He pointed out that he as well as Congress opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah had brought to the notice of the government that 4.5 lakh people had died due to Covid. “In fact, I had said that over 400 people have died in my assembly constituency of Kanakapura alone. But the government said barely 100 had died. I had held meetings with the people and asked all the dependents to apply for compensation. Over 350 families have already applied. But the government has not released compensation to any family so far,’’ he said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has now released official figures mentioning that 47 lakh people have died due to Covid during 2020 and 2021, he said and pointed out that the State High Court and even the Supreme Court have directed the government to pay compensation to the families of those who died due to Covid. He alleged that the health minister and the government were hiding facts about the deaths

Criticising the BJP for asking people to clap and light lamps during the Covid pandemic period, Shivakumar asked the chief minister to give a certificate to the families of those who died due to Covid and pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each if necessary by affixing the photographs of the present and previous chief ministers.