"Then politicians, now officials" demand kickbacks, says contractors’ association prez D Kempanna

Bengaluru: Karnataka State Contractors’ Association president D Kempanna on Thursday pointed out a startling contrast between the kickbacks being sought during previous BJP leadership and the current Congress government in Karnataka.

“The BJP government earlier held power and controlled the commission. In the current Congress government, officials are running the state’s affairs,” said D. Kempanna.

He was speaking to reporters at the Lokayukta office in Bengaluru on Thursday after submitting a set of ‘evidence’ to the panel headed by retired High Court judge H N Nagamohan Das which is probing the ’40 percent commission’ charge against the previous BJP government.

After coming to power in May, the Congress government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had set up the panel.

Kempanna said he would furnish more details to the panel by the end of the month. “I have sought time till December 31 when more contractors will come forward to submit their documents,” Kempanna told PTI.

“I have always stated that corruption exists in all governments. It existed in the previous government controlled by politicians, and now it is being done by executive officials. We have also submitted evidence of corruption that occurred during the coalition government’s time. No politician has asked for a commission in the present regime so far. If they do, we are not afraid to reveal it. We have urged the chief minister to place officials under scrutiny. If necessary steps aren’t taken, we will decide our next course of action,” cautioned Kempanna.

One of the key poll planks of the then opposition, Congress, was to probe the allegations of the ’40 percent commission’ collected from contractors by ministers in the previous BJP-led government, a charge refuted by the saffron party.

(With PTI inputs)