40 pc commission row: BJP gets clean chit from Lokayukta

BENGALURU: Following the Lokayukta giving a clean chit to the former CM Basavaraj Bommai government in the alleged 40  per cent commission case filed by late contractors’ association president D Kempanna and vice-president R Ambikapathy, opposition leader R Ashoka launched an attack at the Congress-led government.

Ashoka said the 40 pc commission charge against the BJP has been proven false in the Lokayukta investigation. He claimed Congress is the actual 60 pc commission government. Ashoka accused Congress of using unemployed contractors as tools to level false charges. He vowed to raise this issue in the Belagavi session and holding the government accountable.

He also said evidence has been found by the ED in the Valmiki Corporation scandal. “A report has been filed regarding who received money in Ballari. Siddaramaiah’s life is an open book, and every minister is opening a book of corruption”, Ashoka charges.

D Kempanna, the President of the Karnataka state unit of the Contractors’ Association

“Ministers in the state are looting, and Siddaramaiah’s family is looting. If the CM hands are so clean, then why did he return the MUDA sites?” Ashoka questioned, alleging corruption in the CM’s family and government.

“The government is afraid to convene the Belgaum session as the Congress is involved in corruption. That is why they are hesitating to announce the date of the session. In the session, we will discuss and fight about all the shortcomings of the government. This government is missing; only during Thursday’s cabinet meeting, it shows up. This is a government of heroes on Thursday alone. Everyone goes missing after Thursday”, Ashoka made fun of the Congress-led government.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday had to face questions regarding BJP leaders’ claims that the 40 pc commission allegation against them was proven false in the Lokayukta inquiry.

Siddaramaiah responded to the media at Bagalkot today when he came to participate in the 71st All India Cooperation Week programme. The CM burst out asking how they made the allegation of 40 pc commission without any evidence. The CM asked the reporter, “Why are you people asking that question to me? Are you a lawyer?”

Further said, “We have filed a complaint in some criminal cases. We have provided evidence for that. But there is a doubt in that witness. The benefit of that doubt would go to the accused”.

The accusation was based on Kempanna’s statement, the CM said and added that he had formed a commission to investigate. “The40 per cent commission was alleged by Kempanna. We made allegations based on his statement. I formed a commission for that. I have not seen the report of the commission. Don’t ask questions, which you are supposed to ask the BJP. Some cases are dismissed due to lack of evidence”.

He added that lack of evidence doesn’t necessarily mean someone is innocent, citing examples of murder case accused being acquitted without evidence.

The CM explained that if a murder case is acquitted without valid witness, it doesn’t mean that murder did not take place. “It doesn’t mean that there is something thing wrong with a being dismissed. I worked as a lawyer. Many cases are dismissed for lack of evidence,” the CM added.