Karnataka BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal stoked a row by accusing the former BJP regime in the state of being involved in a Rs 40,000 crore scam during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yatnal, in a scathing attack, claimed that the previous BJP government, led by Yediyurappa, engaged in corruption by overbilling for rented beds and charging exorbitant amounts for Covid patients.
"One mask costs Rs 45. How much did Yediyurappa bill the government? He billed Rs 485. He (Yediyurappa) has looted thousands of crores of rupees. Rs 40,000 crore rupees were looted. They billed Rs 8–10 lakhs for one corona patient," Yatnal alleged.
RULING CONGRESS SLAMS BJP
In response to Yatnal's accusations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the allegations are further evidence of the BJP government operating as a "40 per cent commission government".
Taking to X, he said, "In a press conference, accompanied by supporting documents, we accused Yediyurappa’s government of corruption totalling approximately Rs 4,000 crore under the guise of Corona treatment and management. But if we consider Yatnal's accusation, it seems like the corruption is 10 times more than our estimate. The group of BJP ministers who had come out howling at our accusation and held a press conference in Vidhana Soudha, where are they hiding now?"
Siddaramaiah criticised the silence of BJP leaders in the state on these allegations.
Reacting to the controversy, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge demanded that the documents supporting the allegations be made public or submitted to the inquiry commission headed by Justice Michael, formed by the Karnataka government to probe alleged Covid-19 scams during the previous BJP regime.
He added, "BJP leaders from the centre also have a share in the alleged Rs 40k crore corruption by Yediyurappa."
Published By:
Vadapalli Nithin Kumar
Published On:
Dec 27, 2023
English (US) ·