Days after Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claimed that individuals from Delhi had approached him to supply him the Chief Minister’s put up in return of Rs 2,500 crore, the Congress celebration in Karnataka demanded a probe, whereas CM Basavaraj Bommai denied to touch upon the matter.
The assertion comes after rumours of a rejig in the Karnataka Cabinet have been doing the rounds.
“You will meet many thieves in politics who will offer you tickets, take you to Delhi, make you meet Sonia Gandhi, JP Nadda. Some people had come from Delhi and said that they would make me the Chief Minister if I arranged Rs 2,500 crore. Do they know how much is Rs 2,500 crore and where to keep it, in a room or a godown,” former Union Minister and BJP MLA Yatnal had mentioned on Thursday.
He added that these individuals had additionally mentioned that they’d take him to JP Nadda and Amit Shah’s residences.
While Bommai refused to reply questions relating to it on Friday and Saturday, state Congress chief D Ok Shivakumar demanded a national-level dialogue over it and a probe.
“There is a price fixed by the present BJP government in Karnataka for police sub-inspectors and assistant professors. There are a lot of corruption allegations. Yatnal is a BJP MLA and is expected to get a good portfolio in the near future. His statements must be taken seriously,” he added.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah on Saturday demanded that an investigation be ordered because the allegations have been “serious.” He mentioned: “If an investigation is not conducted, it only implies that Basavaraj Bommai has accepted to have paid crores of rupees to become the CM. He will not be able to continue as the CM on moral grounds. If we look at what Yatnal said, it shows that he has a lot of data on BJP’s corruption. He should be called for investigation to extract information and reveal the truth.”
“People had thought it was the Legislature Party that elects the CM in the BJP. Now Yatnal has revealed that the CM chair is a payment seat and bought through auction. There are also allegations that this seat auction is not just limited to the CM position but also to various ministerial berths. There should also be an investigation on how much money is being paid by defected candidates to the BJP leadership,” he added.
Alleging that there’s a hyperlink to Yatnal’s allegation and the scams carried out by the BJP, like extorting 40% fee from contractors, PSI rip-off, assistant professor recruitment and well being dept scams, he mentioned, “All these have to be investigated. Those who have made payments to be CM and ministers have entered into commission business. This has deprived many of their bright future. Yatnal’s allegations are not new. He has previously made allegations on CM and ministers over various scams. Why is their high command silent? Does this mean their approval?”
