Bommai demands Cong govt in K’taka to prove with evidence 40% commission allegations during BJP rule

PTI, May 22, 2023, 1:48 PM IST

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday demanded the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state to prove with evidence that there was 40 per cent commission during the previous BJP rule.

The saffron party leader also urged the government to investigate alleged scams or irregularities that took place during the previous BJP and Congress governments, and let the truth come out.

”I want to clearly say — let them probe. They have alleged 40 per cent commission, they have to prove it with evidence now. I demand that the Congress, being in the government, to give us all the proof and show there was a 40 per cent commission,” Bommai said in a response to a question on the Congress government reportedly planning to probe the alleged scams during BJP rule.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, ”the Contractors’ Association had alleged 40 per cent, I want to tell its President Kempanna –they (Congress) may claim that there is no 40 per cent commission with Congress in power — so here on in all the projects contractors’ will have quote 40 per cent less in the tenders. If they continue to quote the same tender amount as earlier, it means that 40 per cent has continued.” ”So Kempanna has a huge responsibility, the Contractors’ Association should tell all its contractors to quote 40 per cent less in their tender,” he added.

During the previous BJP regime, the state Contractors’ Association under its President Kepanna had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging 40 per cent commission charge against public representatives and officials for public works, which the Congress, then in the opposition, had used it as a major weapon against the then ruling party, during the campaign for the Assembly polls.

To a question as to whether the Contractors’ Association would release documents at least now, Bommai said, ”Let them, Kempanna has not done it so far, also they have not given it to courts, but have indulged in false campaigning (against BJP). Congress benefitted from it, so let them do it at least now.” Regarding claims that the Police Sub-inspector (PSI) recruitment scam will be probed, he said, ”Let them investigate everything. We have given the Lokayukta and CID — cases regarding the scams which took place during their (previous Congress) tenure…let what happened during both their and our (BJP) tenures be probed, and let the truth come out.” The former Chief Minister also expressed pain over the death caused due to rain on Sunday and said the Met department had given warning about rains, but it is clear the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has not taken any measures.

”I urge the Chief Minister, we have created SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) in Bengaluru, immediately press them into service at the vulnerable spots and take measures at places which are bottleneck, as there are predictions of more rains in the days to come. Also measures should be taken regarding tree falls to avoid any disaster or inconvenience to people,” he added. A 23-year old woman died on Sunday after the vehicle she was travelling in got submerged in a flooded K R Circle underpass, following thunderstorm and heavy rains in the city.