Bengaluru, Jul 24 (PTI) Leader of the Opposition
Siddaramaiah and Ministers of the ruling BJP in Karnataka
continued to spar on Friday over charges of corruption in
procurement of COVID-19 equipment and supplies, with the LoP
demanding to know why the government was afraid of
constituting a judicial Commission to probe the matter.
Siddaramaiah had on Thursday released documents
comprising statistics to support his claims of corruption.
Minister R Ashoka rejected his demand, saying the
allegations were baseless and politically motivated, aimed at
demoralising officials working against COVID.
“Order and constitute a judicial commission…let a
sitting High Court judge inquire and let the truth come out…
whatever documents they (govt) have, let them place it
before the judicial commission. We will place whatever we
have,” Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “if I”m lying and
you (Ministers) are telling the truth, constitute a judicial
commission.
Why are you afraid of a judicial commission? why are you
saying that there will be no inquiry? I reiterate and demand
strongly that the government order for a judicial commission.”
Siddaramaiah on Thursday had alleged that the total
expenditure of the government relating to COVID was Rs 4,167
crore, of which at least Rs 2,000 crore was “pocketed” by
ministers and officials.
Refuting this, five Ministers, including Ashoka, had held
a press conference on Thursday, in which they said the overall
expenditure of the government is Rs 2,118 crore, with Rs 1,611
crore going for Covid relief measures and Rs 506 crore for
purchase of medical equipment.
Hitting back at Siddaramaiah for his comments on Friday,
Ashoka said the government on July 23 had given a ”sufficient
reply” to the charges and made it clear that everything was
transparent.
The opposition has no face after our clarification,” he
said.
“….we will decide if an inquiry is required or not. We
need not learn from him (Siddaramaiah)…if we go on ordering
inquiry into things they demand, the whole police force will
not be enough.
Levelling such baseless charges is like an addiction for
them,” he said.
The Minister also reminded Siddaramaiah that he is the
leader of the opposition, not the Chief Minister.
“He (Siddaramaiah) cannot order us. He can give
suggestions to the government,” he said. PTI KSU APR
RAVINDRANATH
APR
RAVINDRANATH
Siddaramaiah and Ministers of the ruling BJP in Karnataka
continued to spar on Friday over charges of corruption in
procurement of COVID-19 equipment and supplies, with the LoP
demanding to know why the government was afraid of
constituting a judicial Commission to probe the matter.
Siddaramaiah had on Thursday released documents
comprising statistics to support his claims of corruption.
Minister R Ashoka rejected his demand, saying the
allegations were baseless and politically motivated, aimed at
demoralising officials working against COVID.
“Order and constitute a judicial commission…let a
sitting High Court judge inquire and let the truth come out…
whatever documents they (govt) have, let them place it
before the judicial commission. We will place whatever we
have,” Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “if I”m lying and
you (Ministers) are telling the truth, constitute a judicial
commission.
Why are you afraid of a judicial commission? why are you
saying that there will be no inquiry? I reiterate and demand
strongly that the government order for a judicial commission.”
Siddaramaiah on Thursday had alleged that the total
expenditure of the government relating to COVID was Rs 4,167
crore, of which at least Rs 2,000 crore was “pocketed” by
ministers and officials.
Refuting this, five Ministers, including Ashoka, had held
a press conference on Thursday, in which they said the overall
expenditure of the government is Rs 2,118 crore, with Rs 1,611
crore going for Covid relief measures and Rs 506 crore for
purchase of medical equipment.
Hitting back at Siddaramaiah for his comments on Friday,
Ashoka said the government on July 23 had given a ”sufficient
reply” to the charges and made it clear that everything was
transparent.
The opposition has no face after our clarification,” he
said.
“….we will decide if an inquiry is required or not. We
need not learn from him (Siddaramaiah)…if we go on ordering
inquiry into things they demand, the whole police force will
not be enough.
Levelling such baseless charges is like an addiction for
them,” he said.
The Minister also reminded Siddaramaiah that he is the
leader of the opposition, not the Chief Minister.
“He (Siddaramaiah) cannot order us. He can give
suggestions to the government,” he said. PTI KSU APR
RAVINDRANATH
APR
RAVINDRANATH
Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI
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