Cash for V-C post: BJP MP Pratap Simha drops graft bomb on party-led Karnataka government

“The lobbying for getting one’s name on the list going to the search committee is unbelievable. We have to look at why the universities are getting spoilt. I studied at the Mysore University and will fight against it (the corrupt system),” he said.

Questions over quality

Simha further said that he knew people who had passed the Karnataka State Eligibility Test without knowing to write even a single sentence in English.

“If such people are appointed as professors and assistant professors, how efficiently could they teach the students,” he asked.

The MP’s statements have once again exposed the intraparty squabbles in the Karnataka BJP, besides kicking up a storm in the organisation.

Accusations on his the own ruling BJP govt in state, of graft charges of Rs 5 to 6 crore for an appointment of a VC to a university in K’taka, the Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha once again kicked up a storm exposing the infighting within the BJP cadres. @TheSouthfirst @anusharavi10 pic.twitter.com/pvFz3Gt5Gh

— Bellie Thomas (@belliethomas) December 22, 2022

Soon after a video of his speech went viral on social media and sparked criticism against the BJP government, Higher Education Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan scrambled his resources to contain the damage.

On Wednesday, 21 December, he ordered a probe into the MP’s allegations. Speaking to reporters, the minister said the MP was within his rights to level charges and make statements in public. But he should provide evidence/records to support his claims or accusations.

“One can have his opinion about anything since this is a democracy. We don’t need to react to every opinion. We have ordered an inquiry into the graft charges,” Ashwathnarayan told journalists.

Also read: Bus shelter domes demolished after BJP MP’s threat

Congress fires at BJP

The higher education minister’s response, too, went viral and the Karnataka Congress tore into the BJP.

“BJP MLAs themselves are not ready to accept the government’s decisions, @drashwathcn Yatnal has clearly stated that behind their decision to set up a university, there is a motive to loot money. Then the assistant professor appointment scandal, and now the recovery of the bribe paid for the appointment of VC is also out in the open. Are Ashwathnarayan’s corrupt hands that dirty?” the Congress tweeted.

ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಿರ್ಧಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಶಾಸಕರೇ ಒಪ್ಪಲು ತಯಾರಿಲ್ಲ, @drashwathcn ಅವರ ವಿವಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆ ನಿರ್ಧಾರದ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹಣ ಲೂಟಿ ಹೊಡೆಯುವ ಹುನ್ನಾರವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಯತ್ನಾಳ್ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಆಗ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕ ನೇಮಕ ಹಗರಣ, ಈಗ ವಿಸಿ ನೇಮಕಕ್ಕೆ ವಸೂಲಿ ಬಯಲಿಗೆ.
ಅಶ್ವಥ್ ನಾರಾಯಣ್ ಅವರ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟ ಕೈಗಳು ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಉದ್ಧವಾಗಿವೆ? pic.twitter.com/Avl7Boazl1

— Karnataka Congre@INCKarnataka) December 21, 2022

“The BJP’s own MP is accusing its government of accepting a bribe of more than ₹5 crore for appointing a vice-chancellor. It is not the state government that appoints the V-Cs. The Chancellor makes a final call based on the government’s recommendations. Unfortunately, the allegations of graft are targeted at the highest office in the state,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislature Council, BK Hariprasad, told South First.