Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged the BJP MLA to submit evidence before the Nagamohan Das Committee.
Published Dec 26, 2023 | 10:32 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 26, 2023 | 10:33 PM
BJP's Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has alleged irregularities to the tune of ₹40,000 crore in Covid-19 management during BS Yediyurappa's tenure in Karnataka. (South First)
The BJP in Karnataka was left embarrassed after one of its MLAs, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, alleged irregularities of ₹40,000 crore in Covid-19-related procurement during party senior leader BS Yediyurappa’s tenure as the chief minister.
Currently a member of the party’s Parliamentary board committee, Yediyurappa headed the BJP government for two years, from 26 July 2019, till Basavaraj Bommai took over on 28 July 2021. It was during this period that the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Following Yatnal’s allegation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed to the Vijayapura City MLA to submit evidence in support of his claim to the Nagamohan Das Committee, which was set up on 26 August this year to probe the “40 percent commission” charges levelled against the BJP regime by the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association.
Based on the allegations made by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the 15th Legislative Assembly in 2021, the Siddaramaiah government also constituted an inquiry commission led by Justice (Retd) John Michael D’Cunha in August to probe the irregularities in Covid-19-related procurements.
During the run-up to the 10 May Assembly polls, the Congress used the allegations to corner the BJP.
Yatnal, known for making controversial remarks, told reporters in Vijayapura on Tuesday, 26 December, that face masks priced ₹45 apiece were billed at ₹485 during the peak Covid-19 period.
He also alleged that the BJP government under Yediyurappa took beds on rent at a higher rate.
Senior @BJP4India leader & MLA @BasanagoudaBJP accuses his party govt led by former CM @BSYBJP of Rs 40,000 crore mismanagement during #COVID19.
Alleges masks costing Rs 45 were billed for Rs 485, beds were rented on higher prices.
Yatnal has been miffed over… pic.twitter.com/9mkl1k13jv
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) December 26, 2023
“These 10,000 beds were taken on rent. One bed was rented out for ₹20,000 per day. We could have purchased two beds and other necessary items (for this price). Do you know the expenses they have incurred daily during Covid-19?” Yatnal asked reporters.
Asked for evidence, he said it was with the PAC. “HK Patil, who is currently the minister for law and parliamentary affairs, was then the PAC chairman,” he said.
“Why was CC Patil (the BJP’s Nargund MLA) made the chairman of the PAC? They asked me (to take up this post), and I told them I would expose everything. Hence, I was not made (the chairman),” Yatnal claimed.
He also alleged that hospitals charged more during the Covid-19.
Yatnal has been miffed with the party’s high command, especially with former chief minister and Lingayat strongman Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra.
Yatnal made no secret of his disappointment when Vijayendra, a first-time MLA, was appointed the president of BJP’s Karnataka unit because the party did not consider him either as the Leader of the Opposition or the party’s state president.
Soon after Yatnal levelled the allegations, Siddaramaiah questioned the silence of the state BJP leaders and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP MLA @BasanagoudaBJP’s bold allegation that the previous @BJP4Karnataka government led by @BSYBJP was involved in a Rs 40,000 crore corruption scandal during the Covid-19 pandemic has given further evidence to our earlier accusation that the BJP government was a ‘40%…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 26, 2023
“BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has directly accused the BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP government of corruption to the tune of ₹40,000 crore during the Covid-19 pandemic and has provided evidence to our allegation that the BJP government was a 40-percent-commission government,” Siddaramaiah said on social media platform X (previously Twitter).
“We had alleged that BS Yediyurappa government committed corruption of around ₹4,000 crore in the Covid-19 management in a press conference along with documents,” he added.
“Judging by Yatnal’s allegation, it seems that there was 10 times more corruption than our estimate. Following our allegations, a group of then-ministers held a press conference at Vidhana Soudha. Where are they hiding now?” the chief minister asked.
“Yatnal should not do a hit-and-run job. If he is committed to eradicating corruption, he should take the charges to their logical conclusion. For this, he should hand over all the information he has about corruption during Corona to the commission of inquiry formed under the headship of retired Justice Nagamohan Das,” Siddaramaiah opined
“BJP MLA Yatnal has been constantly making accusations of corruption against Yeddyurappa and his son Vijayendra, as well as some ministers who were in the Cabinet of the previous government. It is not surprising that the BJP leaders of the state who are involved in this corruption are silent about it,” he further said.
“It is puzzling that the country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, who describes himself as the country’s ‘chowkidar’ and often mutters ‘na khaoonga, na khane doonga” (will not eat and won’t let anyone eat), is silent on such allegations of corruption levelled by his own party’s leader,” he taunted the prime minister.
