CAG report: BJP accuses Siddu govt of Rs 35,000 crore financial wrongdoing

Bengaluru: Ahead of the legislative session in Belagavi, the BJP, on Thursday alleged that Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state had misappropriated Rs. 35,000 crore of public money which remains largely unaccounted for in the 2016-17 budget. 

Releasing a booklet on the alleged financial irregularities as highlighted in the recently tabled Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report, the saffron party urged Chief Minister Kumaraswamy to act against his predecessor Siddaramaiah, who also held the finance portfolio at that time for the irregularities.

Addressing a press conference BJP MLC N Ravikumar and MLA Ashwathnarayana said that the executive summary of the CAG report states that as against the total provision of ₹1,86,052 crore in 2016-17, an expenditure of ₹1,73,045 crore was incurred, resulting in an unspent provision of ₹13,007 crore (7%). It also highlights a 19% mismatch in the state’s receipts and expenditure, which roughly translates into Rs 35,000 crore of unaccounted public money, Ravikumar added.

The CAG report has flagged irregularities in purchase of uniforms for schoolchildren, procurement of laptops, filling up of lakes among other things. “We demand that the CAG report be debated during the winter session of the Legislative Assembly,” he said.