Bangalore: A serious allegation has been heard that some District Chief Library Officers are demanding 40 per cent bribe money for buying books for state libraries and nominating members to the District Central Library Authority.
A complaint was submitted that a 60 per cent bribe was demanded to present the file to the superiors in BBMP. Following this, a book publisher and a seller have filed a complaint with the district collector who is also the chairman of the district public library authority, that a 40 percent bribe is being demanded for the purchase of books in the libraries. The book publisher has confirmed that the complaint has been lodged. And a copy of this complaint is available.
For the development of government schools, the CSR funds of corporate companies were released to the school and they demanded a bribe of 40 to 50 percent. In the midst of all this, the complaint of demanding bribe for the purchase of books has come to the fore.
Read More: Congress leaders file second complaint against MUDA scam complainant in three days
Siddharth Bavikatti, the chief library officer of Bidar District Center, demanded that 40 percent of the money should be given to buy books. In this regard, the author, publisher and seller named Kupendra S Hosmani has filed a complaint on 24 October 2024 with the Chairman of the District Public Library Authority and the deputy commissioner. The same complaint has also been submitted to School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa.
What’s in the complaint?
Siddhartha Bavikatti, the officer-in-charge of the Bidar district head library, has been working at the same place for the past 10 years. He has the attitude that no one can shake me from here no matter what he does. They are continuing the trend of corruption and bribery by misusing power.
He alleged . Bidar District Central Library Authority asked for bribe to send nomination proposal and name of members. Also, they demanded 40 per cent of the money to buy my book,” Kupendra Hosmani explained in the complaint.
Bribe is not asked only for book selection. Instead, there has been an allegation that officials are asking for bribes in re-selection of books left out of selection. Another publisher, who did not want to be named, said that while supplying books, those who take the books in inventory, the deputy director also has to be bribed.
During the previous BJP government, congress leaders making allegations of 40 percent bribery. It may be recalled that Siddaramaiah, who was the leader of the opposition, strongly condemned this and launched the Pay CM campaign.
It is alleged that Minister Madhu Bangarappa’s PA demanding 40 to 50 percent bribe to sanction CSR fund.
My children are studying in a government school. I am SDMC president of that school. Agencies that bring CSR funds to schools say that Madhu Bangarappa’s PA asks 40% to 50% to sign a CSR fund. They quoted me 35 to 40 lakhs for the repair of the school. By the time it reaches school it is only 10 lakhs. School development using CSR fund is another trick. In this matter, from the head teacher of the school to the CRP, BRP and BEO, they have to pay money,” he said in response to a post on social media.
The government intends to provide better education to 1,000 children as one model school in 03 panchayats to build model schools under CSR fund in 2,000 gram panchayats. It may be recalled that a work plan has been formulated to provide the required grant through corporate companies.
R Ashok alleged Rs 700 crore scam in Excise department
In a scathing attack on the Congress-led government, Opposition leader R. Ashok has demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged Rs 700 crore corruption scam within the Excise Department. Speaking to the media on Sunday, Ashok accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of being 100 percent corrupt, referring to him as the leader who came to power by misleading the people with “false promises” and alleged that corruption within the government was rampant.
A Culture of Corruption in Congress Government
Ashok charged that the Congress government has been plagued with daily reports of ministers engaging in corruption. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who promised the people of Karnataka that he would work for their welfare, has instead turned into a symbol of 100 percent corruption,” Ashok said, adding that the government’s record in the last 18 months had been nothing but a series of scams and loot by ministers.
The BJP leader further claimed that Siddaramaiah’s life, once described as an “open book,” is now filled with the stains of corruption. “What was once an open book has turned into a record of looting. Every page of his life shows dark marks of corruption,” Ashok said.
Rs 700 Crore Allegations and Modi’s Statement
The controversy erupted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns about the alleged Rs 700 crore corruption within Karnataka’s Excise Department during the Maharashtra election campaign. Ashok claimed that while Modi was highlighting these allegations, it was not the Prime Minister who made the accusations, but the Karnataka State Liquor Dealers Association.
Ashok called for the Karnataka Chief Minister to read the letter from the Liquor Dealers Association, which detailed the bribes and malpractices within the department. The letter, Ashok argued, exposes the corruption in the Excise Department, where bribes are allegedly being demanded for the renewal of liquor licenses, the collection of monthly revenue, and transfers within the department. He demanded that the Chief Minister act on these allegations and investigate the matter by forming an SIT.
Demand for Action on Bribe Allegations
Ashok said that if the accusations from the Liquor Dealers Association are false, the government should revoke the licenses of those making the claims and shut down their shops. “If these allegations are lies, cancel their licenses and seal the shops. The Congress leaders are looting the public’s tax money to please their high command, and they have no moral right to speak about Prime Minister Modi,” he stated.
He also took aim at the ongoing scandal involving contractors. Referring to the 40 percent commission charges in BBMP (Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagara Palike), Ashok pointed out that a recent report by the Lokayukta had exposed these claims as a “toolkit” used by the Congress. He said that the BJP government had been accused by the contractor’s association, but the facts have now been corroborated with evidence, leading to a complete collapse of the Congress party’s lies.
Criticism of Congress’s Incompetence
Ashok did not stop there; he further criticised the Congress government for its inability to even fix basic infrastructure issues, such as potholes on roads. “This government has no competence to even fill a pothole on the roads. We now have to tell them to show us a road without a pothole. The government lacks funds to manage waste disposal. They have increased the cost of milk, electricity, petrol, diesel, stamp duty, and registration fees. Now they are planning to introduce new cess under the guise of waste management, which will further burden the people of Bengaluru,” he remarked.
Congress’s Failure to Tackle Corruption
Ashok criticised the Siddaramaiah-led government for its failure to take action on corruption. He pointed out that even though many complaints and reports have been filed, no action has been taken against the culprits. “Why have no arrests been made despite all the evidence? In the past, the government used to set targets for revenue collection, but now they set targets for corruption and bribery,” Ashok said sarcastically.
He also criticized Siddaramaiah’s use of caste as a political tool, saying, “For 40 years, we have seen Siddaramaiah use his caste as a weapon whenever he faces a crisis. The people of Karnataka are aware of his corrupt practices, and it’s time they send the Congress packing.”
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