Congress Reacts to Allegations of Rs 40,000 Crore Covid Corruption in Karnataka

MANGALURU: The comments made by Bijapur City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal on the alleged corruption in Covid management during the tenure of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa have now become a potent tool for Congress leaders, particularly led by CM Siddaramaiah. Addressing reporters, Yatnal asserted that corruption had taken place in the state's Covid management during the tenure of BS Yediyurappa. He claimed, "A mask, originally priced at Rs 45, was purportedly inflated to Rs 480 during the Covid crisis.

The Yediyurappa-led government said 10,000 beds were arranged in Bengaluru. But they were taken on rent. The rates fixed were so high that two beds could have been bought for the price of one. The magnitude of corruption reached Rs 40 thousand crore," he alleged. "It is essential to speak about corruption, regardless of the party in power," he said. When asked if he would release documents, Yatnal said that all details were available in Public Accounts. "They did not make me chairman of Public Accounts as I would bring everything out," he claimed. The Congress leaders, sensing an opportunity to question and potentially silence the BJP in the state, have seized upon these allegations.

“BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal’s bold allegation that the previous BJP government led by BS Yediyurappa was involved in a Rs 40,000 crore corruption scandal during the Covid-19 pandemic has given further evidence to our earlier accusation that the BJP government was a '40% commission government' CM Siddaramaiah posted on social media (formerly Twitter).

“In a press conference, accompanied by supporting documents, we accused Yediyurappa’s government of corruption totaling 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?” he questioned. He also said that if Yatnal is committed to eradicating corruption, he should logically conclude his accusation.

“For this, he needs to submit all the information he has about the Corona corruption to the inquiry commission led by retired judge Nagamohan Das. BJP legislator Yatnal has been continuously accusing former Chief Minister Yediyurappa, his son BY Vijayendra, and some ministers in the previous government of corruption. It's not surprising that BJP leaders in the state are silent about this,” he said. Siddaramaiah has also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is mysterious that the Prime Minister of the country, who often calls himself the "Chowkidar" and declares 'Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga', is silent about such corruption accusations against his party leader. This silence raises questions about whether the central leaders are also involved in the corruption of the state BJP government,” he added.