"Complaint against Yathindra Siddaramaiah over Rs 444-cr tender scam is false": Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar rejects BJP allegations of a Rs 444-crore tender scam involving Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, calling them false.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has come out strongly to defend Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, dismissing allegations of a massive Rs 444-crore tender scam as completely baseless. Speaking to journalists in Delhi on Tuesday, the Chief Minister questioned the logic behind the accusations, noting that the Minister has only held his position for a few months.
The Allegations of Tender Manipulation
The controversy erupted following claims made by BJP leader NR Ramesh regarding the Karnataka State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) 3.0 tender process. According to Ramesh, the tender, which was issued under the state’s Centre for e-Governance, was intentionally designed with specific conditions to benefit a single company.
The BJP leader made several serious claims, including:
- The tender process was manipulated to favor a particular bidder.
- Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), which was deemed qualified for the project, was allegedly blocked from participating.
- Complaints regarding these irregularities were submitted to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and the e-Governance CEO, but no action was taken.
Ramesh has reportedly named Yathindra Siddaramaiah in a formal complaint submitted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Shivakumar's Rebuttal
Addressing these claims, DK Shivakumar laughed off the allegations, highlighting the timeline of the Minister's tenure. "Yathindra Siddaramaiah became a minister barely a couple of months ago; how could he commit irregularities so quickly? All those allegations are false," the Chief Minister stated.
High-Level Congress Meetings in Delhi
Beyond the scam allegations, the Chief Minister detailed a series of significant meetings held by Congress leaders in the national capital. These discussions involved key figures such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, and Priyanka Gandhi.
The agenda for these meetings included:
- Discussions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the Election Commission.
- A meeting of Education Ministers from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala to discuss a South India Education Policy.
- Deliberations regarding pending appointments to Corporation Boards and the potential expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet.
Regarding the cabinet expansion, Shivakumar noted that the decision rests with the party high command in Delhi, stating, "The high command in Delhi will send the list, and we will do it."
Congress Targets Election Commission
The political tension in Delhi was further heightened by resolutions passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC). The party has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, citing what they describe as a "grave danger to democracy."
The Congress party has raised alarms over the "capture" of the electoral process, specifically pointing to:
- The alleged removal of 13 crore 30 lakh names from electoral rolls.
- Concerns regarding the integrity of EVMs and the selective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
- Changes in the process for appointing the CEC and the granting of lifelong immunity to the office.
The party maintains that these developments validate the warnings previously issued by Rahul Gandhi regarding "Vote Chori" and the integrity of the voting process.