E-Paper
Will answer accordingly: Shivakumar hits back on graft charge
Kumaraswamy had also alleged that he has several documents showing how farmers had been cheated of their fertile land and would submit the documents to the PM.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar while responding to former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) HD Kumaraswamy’s corruption allegations against the present Congress-led state government, on Sunday said that “he will answer accordingly”.
A day earlier, the JD (S) leader had said that he would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi “regarding the irregularities in execution of Bengaluru Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE)”.
“It is not enough to respond to Kumaraswamy’s allegations in front of the media. He said he would go all the way to the Prime Minister and I will answer accordingly,” Shivakumar told media persons in Bengaluru.
Kumaraswamy, who along with JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda, has been cornering the state government over the alleged irregularities in the NICE road project. During a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday, the JD (S) leader said, “I will meet the Prime Minister and Union home minister Amit Shah and seek a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged scam”.
The former CM had also alleged that he has several documents showing how farmers had been cheated of their fertile land and would submit the documents to the PM.
“I have complete documents regarding the NICE scam and even reports from various committees recommending action against the company. I am seeking the PM’s appointment to submit all the documents,” Kumaraswamy said, adding that if the PM is committed to stopping the corruption, he should take up the NICE issue.
Kumaraswamy said that former law minister TB Jayachandra had recommended a CBI probe into the alleged scam in 2016, adding that “Jayachandra got a threat call” for speaking on behalf of farmers recently. “Who is behind the threat call needs to be probed,” Kumaraswamy said.
In a veiled reference to Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy had also alleged that “the minister championing the Peripheral Ring Road project” had colluded with NICE, and taken over the land of the farmers for the project.
Meanwhile, health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also hit out at Kumaraswamy on Sunday for making corruption allegations against the state government.
“Why just shoot allegations in the air? HDK once shows pen drive and CD to accuse our government. If he really has documents, let him release them.”
“Kumaraswamy had dreamed of becoming the ‘king maker’ before the elections. But the people crushed HDK’s dream in the elections. His dreams have been shattered and he is desperate,” Rao said while responding to Kumaraswamy’s corruption allegations.
Kumaraswamy on Saturday had also alleged corruption by the Congress government to the tune of more than ₹1,000 crore for the transfer of officials in the state. “More than ₹1,000 crore has been collected for transfers. Three to four people were given transfer letters for a single post,” Kumaraswamy alleged, claiming that there was an argument between Siddaramaiah and home minister Dr G Parameshwara over the transfer of police officers.
The JD(S) leader also alleged that the contractors have been asked to pay bribes to clear the pending bills. “When an official went on behalf of the contractors to get it released, a 10-15% commission was demanded. The commission business has started in the name of Brand Bengaluru. The 15%commission was being received through a man identified as KT Nagaraj,” he said.
