Never made any allegation of 15 pc commission, says BBMP contractors’ association

BENGALURU: With the issue of pending bills of contractors taking a political turn, the BBMP contractors’ association on Monday denied that they had made allegations of commission against the present government and said they were only pressing for release of pending payments.

Interestingly, one of the contractors, who had previously asked Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to take a pledge at the Gangadhara Ajjayya Mutt at Nonavinakere in Tumakuru district, that no commission had been sought for release of payments, withdrew his remarks and offered an apology.

At a press conference here today, contractors’ association president Manjunath said they only sought the support of the opposition parties in their fight and that they had nothing to do with the 15 per cent commission allegations made by those parties. “The chief minister and deputy chief minister should see our plight and intervene in the issue”, he said.

He reiterated that the BBMP is not releasing funds though it has been allotted. “Some of our contractors have shouted at me, they need justice. We met 25 legislators in Benglauru and briefed them about our problems, but this seems to have given a political colour to the issue”, he said.

Manjunath pointed out that they had supported Karnataka State Contractors’ Association president Kempanna when he levelled 40 per cent commission charges against the previous BJP government and questioned whether they were backing the BJP at that time. “We are only fighting for justice, but this shouldn’t be given a political colour”, he said.

Contractor Hemanth withdrew his remarks and offered an apology to the Deputy CM.

Meanwile, contractor Hemanth, who had dared Deputy CM D K Shivakumar to take a pledge at the Ajjayya mutt in Nonavinakere, said he was overcome by emotion when he made those remarks. “The Deputy CM has an emotional connect with the Ajjayya mutt, it was not right on my part to play on those emotions and I apologise for it”, he said.

He said he will also visit the Deputy CM, apologise to him personally and request him to release the pending payments. Hemanth also claimed that he was not part of any association.