HASSAN/SHIVAMOGGA: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said his government will probe allegations of 40% corruption in government contract and tender works against the previous BJP government, besides other scams and irregularities reported during the regime of former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai.
The announcement by the CM assumes significance because corruption was among the key planks on which the Congress fought the recent assembly elections and secured a thumping win. It had also taken out a 'PayCM' campaign targetting former CM Bommai.
However, after assuming office, the grand old party did not institute any inquiry into their allegations, drawing criticism from various quarters. BJP leaders in Karnataka accused senior BJP and Congress functionaries of pursuing 'adjustment politics'.
During his visit to Hassan to participate in Kempegowda Jayanti, Siddaramaiah said an investigation is under way into the police sub inspector (PSI) recruitment scam and the probe by CID will be further intensified. "We will also get the bitcoin scam and irregularities during the pandemic, which rocked the BJP government in the last two years of its tenure, probed. Four medical colleges were constructed, and there are allegations about irregularities in them. We will get them investigated. There were irregularities in irrigation projects too; all of them will be probed," Siddaramaiah said.
Deaths in a Covid hospital in Chamarajanagar, allegedly due to a shortage of oxygen supply, during the pandemic will also be probed, he said, adding that the then health minister K Sudhakar had said only two had died, but the casualties were around 24 due to shortage of oxygen supply.
Former home minister Araga Jnanendra welcomed CM Siddaramaiah's decision to order a probe. "He should not be doing this just to threaten the opposition but should seriously clean up the system," he said.
Siddaramaiah also said about 2.5 lakh vacancies in government departments will be filled. "It cannot be done at once, and implementation of the five poll guarantees will cost the government Rs 59,000 crore a year. So this year there is a slightly higher burden on the government, but the guarantees will be implemented."
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.