Yatnal asks Congress to respond to contractors’ ‘doubling commission’ charge

Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, an expelled member of the BJP, on Friday questioned whether the Congress government would accept allegations of “doubling of commission” now, after endorsing claims of “40% commission” against the erstwhile BJP government.

Speaking during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Yatnal referred to allegations made by Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) president R. Manjunath and demanded a response from the Congress government.

Earlier charges

He recalled that the Congress had earlier accepted charges levelled by former KSCA president D. Kempanna, who had accused the Basavaraj Bommai-led government of collecting a “40% commission.” Mr. Yatnal asked whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was present in the House, would now accept similar allegations being made against the present government.

Mr. Yatnal alleged that large sums of contractors’ bills across various departments remained pending and claimed that delays in clearing payments had driven several contractors to suicide. He urged Mr. Siddaramaiah to hold talks with Mr. Manjunath and ensure that pending bills were cleared without delay.

The BJP leader said contractors were forced to borrow money from private lenders at exorbitant interest rates to execute government works. He alleged that the Congress government had made no serious effort to curb corruption in the administration.

Have clean record

Stating that Mr. Siddaramaiah had become the longest-serving Chief Minister after surpassing the tenure of D. Devaraj Urs, Mr. Yatnal said the Chief Minister should leave office with a clean record. Instead, he alleged, the government had been embroiled in scams such as those related to MUDA, the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation, and housing schemes.

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that there was no relief for people belonging to the AHINDA community under the Congress government, claiming that funds meant for backward class corporations had not been released.

Congress member Sharath Bache Gowda highlighted the achievements of the Congress government on various fronts and alleged that the BJP-led Central government had been unjust to Karnataka by denying it its rightful share in tax devolution.