Deputy CM holds meeting with Bengaluru MLAs on probes into city affairs

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar held a meeting with the city Congress MLAs at Kumara Krupa Guest House this morning. In the meeting, Shivakumar informed that a special investigation teams have been formed to investigate the development works taken up in Bengaluru after 2019.

Shivakumar said the SITs will probe solid waste management works, road development and OFC laying, major canals and approval of building plans, issuing of possession certificates in the BBMP town planning section,  works under the Smart City scheme, lake development and ward level works.

The Deputy CM said another meeting of city MLAs will be held tomorrow to discuss the alleged wrongdoings of the previous BJP government in approving project bills. Financial and constituency issues will also be discussed.

Reacting to contractors asking him to take a vow issues at the Kadasiddeshwara Mutt at Nonavinakera in Tumakuru, Shivakumar said, “I am not a contractor, I do not know of any bills. I am aware and I know politics. I also know who is motivating the contractors. No blackmail will work with me. I don’t need to swear on anyone. If the work is done, the bills will be cleared; if the work is not completed, we will not clear the bills”.

The Deputy CM also said, “How can they expect money be released in a week’s time or a months? The tenders were worth crores. They can’t blackmail me, I can face any threat. Whatever we have accused the BJP of is true. It is true that the letter was given. I have said in the House that Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Basavaraj Bommai and everyone else should be investigated”.

On the contractors’ allegation that he sought a commission, Shivakumar said, “Why are they tensed about the bills if they are not guilty? Why should they oppose an investigation? There are bills totalling Rs 25,000 crore in the Irrigation Department. From the available Rs 600 crore, how much do we pay and to whom”? he questioned.

“I have no objection to releasing the pending dues for previous works. But the bills of some works are questionable. The previous government hasn’t cleared bills of Rs 10,000 crore in some constituencies represented by Congress MLAs live, but surprisingly, the bills for works taken up in the constituencies of BJP MLAs were released within 25 days to 40 days . So, that is why I am stressing about conducting a probe”, the Deputy CM siad

Shivakumar sought cooperation in clearing the bills until the investigation is complete. He assured that the investigation will be completed as soon as possible. “First, let’s clear the bills for works have been completed properly. The opposition is simply trying to build political pressure”, he said.

Ministers K J George, B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Byrathi Suresh, Ramalinga Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao and MLAs Rizwan Arshad, Sharath Bachegowda were present in the meeting. However, MLAs M Krishnappa and Priya Krishna were absent.