Bengaluru, Aug 31 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy was targeting the BJP, not the Congress, over the alleged KPSC scam.
Speaking to reporters here, he said Kumaraswamy was free to make whatever allegations he wanted.
“Kumaraswamy is not fighting against us (Congress). He is fighting the BJP. Let him do his duty. Let him make whatever allegations he wants. He wants to see to it that the BJP is no more there and that he remains at the top. Let him do whatever he wants,” Shivakumar said when asked about Kumaraswamy’s allegations against the government over ‘irregularities’ in the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
Asked about Kumaraswamy’s claim that he would release documents that would create a “storm”, Shivakumar said, “Very happy.” The union minister of Heavy Industries and Steel in India on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government over alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitments and questioned Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the issue.
The JD(S) leader questioned the state government’s commitment to cleaning up the recruitment system at the KPSC.
Regarding the BJP’s proposed padayatra (march), Shivakumar said the opposition party was free to undertake it and that the ruling Congress would announce its counter-plan later.
“Let them undertake the padayatra. After that, I will tell you what yatra we will undertake. Aren’t we politicians? Let them start,” he said.
The BJP will begin its 10-day padayatra from Lingasugur to Ballari on Tuesday to protest the “failures” of the Congress government.
On the arrests, including that of an IAS officer, in connection with the alleged KPSC scam, Shivakumar said he would not interfere in the investigation.
“I will not interfere in the investigation. I will get information. There are internal fights going on in the BJP. Who appointed them to the KPSC? There are certain matters. As a CM, I cannot reveal all the information until the complete report comes,” he said.
“Let them say whatever they want. Time will answer them,” he added.
On the government’s proposed “guarantee” relating to land, Shivakumar said the initiative would not be restricted to Bengaluru and would benefit all those whose property is acquired for government purposes.
“Their names should be recorded permanently, and they should be given appropriate compensation. Besides, they should be provided with more facilities on the land they possess,” he said.
The government was making arrangements to issue proper documents containing all necessary details, including photographs of beneficiaries, he said.
“By documents, I mean they must be legally valid. Even when converting B Khata to A Khata, there should be legal validity. The documents must be lawful. If there is a bogus registration, it cannot be done,” Shivakumar said.
He said legally valid documents were necessary to protect the rights of beneficiaries, as they might need to transfer their property, obtain loans or distribute it among family members in the future.
“The government must ensure that their rights and properties remain secure,” he said.
Shivakumar said the initiative had been started during the Siddaramaiah government, when Krishna Byre Gowda was the Revenue Minister, and was being continued by the present government. PTI SSK
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