"If I Open...": Karnataka MLA's Corruption Charge Against Own Government
In a big embarrassment for the Congress government in Karnataka, an audio of party MLA BR Patil flagging corruption in the housing department has gone viral, prompting jabs from the BJP, which has accused the party of "looting" the state.
The alleged conversation is between Mr Patil and Sarfaraz Khan, the private secretary of Housing Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan. The Congress MLA from Aland can be heard expressing frustration that the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation is ignoring recommendation letters issued by MLAs and bribes were being taken for the allotment of houses in his constituency and neighbouring areas.
"What will you check? This is my experience... an allegation against my minister and my party's government... You will never get evidence of bribes being exchanged... In my neighbouring Afzalpur constituency, bribes have been given for the allotment of so many houses," Mr Patil can be heard saying in Hindi.
The MLA then rattles off a list of 100-200 houses each being allotted in this manner in different places, saying the total he knows of is 950. "If I open my mouth, the government will be shaken," he remarks.
Mr Khan notes down the names of the places, assuring the MLA that action would be taken. "I will check with the Rajiv Gandhi Corporation. I will immediately take action," he says.
Asked about the audio clip on Friday, the MLA admitted it was his voice on the call but refused to comment further, saying he would speak to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about this.
Government Response
To a question on Mr Patil's allegations, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he does not know about them.
Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarikholi assured that there would be an investigation.
"Let's see if this was said on the record or off the record. Either way, now that this has been said, the government will investigate. That's when we will know what happened," he
BJP's Attack
Senior BJP leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Arvind Bellad, said Mr Patil's remarks are proof that one "has to pay" to get work done under the Congress government in the state.
"Mr Patil has very categorically and openly alleged that people who have made payments have been allotted houses. He has also given instances. This is the practice in every government department. It's an auction - whoever pays the highest, their work will be done... No inquiry will reveal anything. They are all looting the state together," he sneered, alleging that both the chief minister and his deputy were aware of the corruption.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
12 minutes ago
- Indian Express
After all-party teams abroad, govt considers ‘Parliamentary Friendship Groups'
The government is deliberating forming multi-party 'Parliamentary Friendship Groups', which will interact with their counterparts abroad, following the success of similar delegations sent for global outreach in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Discussions in this regard will be held with all parties in the forthcoming session of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said Monday. 'Several countries have such multi-party parliamentary groups, and they keep asking us to form them. These groups will regularly interact with their counterparts abroad and articulate House best practices and maintain communication between our and Parliaments of other countries,' Birla said on the sidelines of a conference in Mumbai. In a nearly two-hour meeting he held on June 10 with the delegations of MPs after they had returned from their tours regarding Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed pleasure at the 'success' of the endeavour and suggested that this could be institutionalised. The seven delegations that were part of those tours included members from all parties, and articulated the government's stand on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, rising above ideological differences. The heads of these delegations included Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, the JD(U)'s Sanjay Kumar Jha, the BJP's Baijayant Panda and Ravi Shankar Prasad, the NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule, the Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde and the DMK's Kanimozhi. Birla is in Mumbai for a two-day National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/UT Legislative Bodies. The event is being held after 23 years, and the discussions on Monday were held at the Maharashtra Assembly, and attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Estimates Committee Chairman Sanjay Jaiswal, among others. The Estimates Committees of Parliament and state Assemblies examine government Budget estimates and prepare a report. Their recommendations are adopted by the government to prepare the Budget. So Estimates Committees examine government proposals for spending in advance, which is different from Public Accounts Committees, which audit government spending. Addressing the gathering, Birla said the conference was an attempt to bring greater transparency to government budgeting and spending. 'Parliamentary committees work as mini Parliament… The Estimates Committees essentially engage in monitoring of finances, in correct use of funds, and the evaluation of their use for public interest… This conference will share best practices of Estimate Committees of Parliament and various Assemblies,' he said. The Speaker said the conference would also focus on use of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 'We will also organise training for members. The more we use AI and data analytics, the more transparent things will become,' Birla said. On the sidelines of the event, Birla said while almost 90% of the recommendations of the Parliament Estimates Committee are accepted by the government, in many states, such as Himachal Pradesh, only 15% of the recommendations are accepted. He said the two-day conference will look at how to bridge such gaps. 'Committees should not be criticising. They should be concerned with bringing transparency and accountability through discussion and production of evidence,' Birla said, while also calling for better coordination between the Estimates Committee and the PAC. In his address, Fadnavis said the committees work through the year and keep a check on the government, ensuring it is accountable to the House. 'The Estimates Committee is more dynamic as it is a panel that examines spending in advance. Whether the budget estimate is correct… whether it is even needed. It ensures accountability … In Maharashtra, about 65-70% of recommendations are implemented,' he said.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Law and order deteriorating in Chhattisgarh; BJP governing from Delhi, not Raipur, says Congress leader Sachin Pilot; party to raise issues in monsoon session
RAIPUR: Congress' Chhattisgarh in-charge Sachin Pilot on Monday, criticised the BJP government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, alleging that governance was being directed from Delhi instead of Raipur. During his two-day visit to the capital, Pilot met party leaders to discuss strategies for strengthening the organisation in 2025, as directed by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. He said Congress MLAs would raise key issues during the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly. Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Maoist operations, Pilot said that while Congress firmly opposes violence, anti-Naxal measures must be transparent, sensitive, and inclusive, cautioning against politicising internal security matters. Pilot stated that those with the public's mandate to govern were relying on Delhi for decisions. He added that the BJP's one and a half years in power in Chhattisgarh had clearly impacted law and order in the state. 'I will consult all Opposition MLAs and prepare a strategy to corner the state government in the monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, starting July 14,' Pilot said. He also mentioned that Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had dedicated 2025 to strengthening the party organisation, and his visit aimed to facilitate meetings with the state leadership and party workers. Responding to Shah's assertion that Maoists would not be allowed to "sleep", Pilot reiterated that Congress condemned violence but insisted that action should be transparent and involve all stakeholders. 'Our leaders have laid down their lives to protect this state and the country. Internal security issues must not be politicised. The violence caused by left-wing extremism must end through a collective effort,' he said. During his visit, Pilot will hold several meetings at Rajiv Bhawan, the state Congress headquarters. Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and other key leaders were present. A meeting of the Political Affairs Committee, comprising MLAs, party office-bearers, district presidents, and organisational heads, is scheduled to take place. Speaking to the media at the airport, Pilot said that Congress MLAs had been actively raising public concerns in the assembly. He added that discussions would focus on strategy for addressing major issues in the state. Meetings will also be held with Pradesh Congress Committee members, district presidents, and heads of major party wings. He said work done so far would be reviewed, and a roadmap for 2025 would be prepared. Emphasis would be placed on strengthening the party from the booth level up to the state level. Pilot concluded by praising the sacrifices made by security personnel. In reference to Shah's goal of eliminating Naxalism by 31 March 2026, he said any measures must be cautious, strategic, and mindful of the risks faced by the forces on the ground.
India Gazette
23 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Tripura CM Manik Saha pays floral tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday paid floral tribute to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary. In a post on social media X, Saha wrote that Mokerjee's vision for a united India and belief in sacrifice being the ultimate form of devotion inspired leaders to serve the nation. 'Paid floral tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Ji at the BJP Tripura Party office on his 'Balidan Diwas.' His vision for a united India and belief that 'sacrifice is the ultimate form of devotion' inspire us to serve the nation,' the post read. Earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, along with the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President VD Sharma, also paid floral tribute to Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Addressing a program organised on the occasion, CM Yadav remembered his contributions and urged the party workers to follow the path shown by Dr Mookerjee. 'There are a few great personalities who contributed before freedom, as well as played a crucial role at the time of the formation of the Indian Constitution post Independence. Today, we are here to remember the contribution of one such personality, Dr Syama Prasad I am satisfied that Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Article Mookerjee made us realise that Jammu and Kashmir is our crown and we need to admire it. Today, we can see us remember the contribution of Dr Mookerjee and follow the path shown by his life,' CM Yadav said. Additionally, BJP state president VD Sharma also addressed the program and highlighted the resolve of Dr Mookerjee to revoke Article 370. 'Today we are remembering Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who sacrificed his life in the journey from Bharatiya Jana Sangh to Bharatiya Janata then government had decided that there would be two rules in one nation through article 370, and Mookerjee launched agitation against it, went to jail and formed the Jana Sangh. He had died in Jail with a resolve to remove Article 370. Our party was formed due to the sacrifice of Mookerjee, so today is a resolution day for us. We are proud to say that PM Modi fulfilled Syama Prasad Mookerjee's resolution of article 370 revocation,' VD Sharma. 'On the death anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, we pay floral tribute to him, and every party worker should resolve to follow the path shown by Mookerjee,' he added. (ANI)
