Bengaluru: In a dramatic escalation of political tension in Karnataka, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of orchestrating a massive corruption scheme, claiming that a staggering 60 per cent commission is being extorted from contractors. This accusation follows Siddaramaiah’s deflection of similar allegations, where he challenged Kumaraswamy to provide evidence for his claims. In a pointed response via social media, Kumaraswamy cited a recent newspaper report detailing the enormous outstanding bills owed to contractors, totaling Rs 32,000 crore.
Kumaraswamy’s post emphasised that the newspaper report stands as a witness to what he termed Siddaramaiah’s “government loot,” arguing that the documentation itself illustrates the gravity of the situation. “Give documents… Look at this Siddaramaiah… Your fake guarantee is a witness to the government’s loot,” the minister tweeted, further contending that the outstanding bills are indicative of rampant exploitation of contractors.
The breakdown of the arrears is alarming, with key departments showing staggering amounts owed: Rs 14,600 crore in Water Resources, Rs 10,000 crore in Public Works, Rs 3,100 crore in Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Rs 2,800 crore in Minor Irrigation, and Rs 1,500 crore in other departments.
Kumaraswamy’s critique did not hold back, as he questioned the integrity of Siddaramaiah’s administration, stating, “Contractors who have done the work in default are writing applications for euthanasia.” He called upon the Chief Minister to address the situation and prioritize the welfare of contractors rather than engage in blame-shifting.
“Correct the mistake that has been made. Unjustified justification is not appropriate. Save the lives of contractors and focus on the development of the state,” Kumaraswamy implored. He dismissed any attempts from Siddaramaiah and his cabinet to engage in a “war of words,” emphasizing that addressing the dues owed to contractors should take precedence over personal attacks.
As the political landscape heats up, the allegations against Siddaramaiah paint a concerning picture of governance in Karnataka. The claims of a 60% commission raise fundamental questions about transparency and accountability within the state’s administration, leaving the public to ponder the implications of these shocking revelations.
ದಾಖಲೆ ಕೊಡಿ.. ದಾಖಲೆ ಕೊಡಿ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದೀರಿ.. ಇಲ್ನೋಡಿ ಸನ್ಮಾನ್ಯ @siddaramaiah ನವರೇ.. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಖೊಟ್ಟಿ ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿ ಸರಕಾರದ ಲೂಟಿ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಗುಡ್ಡೆ. ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯವರೇ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಗುಡ್ಡೆಯ ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ!!
ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸರಕಾರ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರರನ್ನು ಎಷ್ಟು ನಿರ್ಲಜ್ಜವಾಗಿ ಸುಲಿಗೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎನ್ನುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಈ… pic.twitter.com/K9MxF63j34
— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | HD Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) January 7, 2025
Govt heading towards bankruptcy: R Ashok
In a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, Opposition Leader R Ashok has accused them of taking the state towards bankruptcy. This comes as the Himachal Pradesh and Kerala governments have also faced similar allegations of financial mismanagement. The opposition leader, along with Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, held a joint press conference in Vidhan Soudha, where he made several allegations against the government.
The main accusation was that the Congress government is extorting a 60 per cent commission from contractors, which is a significant increase from the previously reported 40 per cent. Ashok claimed that this excessive commission is plunging the entire state into darkness, affecting development projects. He further stated that this commission amount will increase to 65 per cent in the future.
To illustrate the gravity of the situation, Ashok cited the example of a contractor who is owed Rs 20 lakh to build a house on a 40×60 site. With 60 per cent commission in place, the contractor would have to pay Rs 12 lakh to the government, leaving them with only Rs 8 lakh. This, Ashok argued, is an unsustainable situation for contractors.
ನೇಣು ಬಿಗಿದುಕೊಂಡರೂ ಸರಿ, ಸೀಮೆ ಎಣ್ಣೆ ಸುರಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಜೀವಸಹಿತ ಸುಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡರೂ ಸರಿ, ವಿಷ ಕುಡಿದು ಸತ್ತರೂ ಸರಿ 60% ಕಮಿಷನ್ ಕೊಡುವವರೆಗೂ ಕಂಟ್ರಾಕ್ಟರ್ ಗಳ ಬಿಲ್ ಪಾವತಿ ಮಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವಷ್ಟು ಕೀಳು ಮಟ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಇಳಿದಿದೆ ಈ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟ @INCKarnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಲಜ್ಜೆಗೆಟ್ಟ ಕಮಿಷನ್ ದಾಹ.
ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಸಿಎಂ @siddaramaiah ನವರೇ, ತಮ್ಮ… pic.twitter.com/Ch2asCd6U8
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) January 7, 2025
The opposition leader also accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of cheating in the budget, specifically citing statistics to highlight the disparity in funding for various communities. Ashok pointed out that the Congress government has reduced funding for Dr BR Ambedkar’s self-employment scheme from Rs 100 crore to Rs 45 crore. Similarly, they have reduced funding for Adi Jambava Development Corporation from Rs 100 crore to ₹40 crore.
Ashok also questioned whether Siddaramaiah has any love for Dalits, given the reduced funding for their development schemes. He further pointed out that the Congress government has given only ₹100 crore to Devaraju Urs Development Corporation, whereas the BJP government had given Rs 190 crore for Hindutva communities.
The opposition leader criticized the Congress government for their handling of funds for temples and religious institutions, stating that they have given only Rs 17 crore, whereas the BJP government had given Rs 154.85 crore. He also accused them of neglecting rice production and giving land to Kabar Sthan.
The opposition leader also scolded CID DIG Shantanu Sinha, saying that they do not know the accounts and are unable to track down the missing funds. The leader’s scathing attack on the Congress government has raised questions about their financial management and development priorities.
