BJP dares Congress government in Karnataka to probe scams during its rule
Bengaluru: The BJP in Karnataka on Saturday challenged the Congress government to order a probe into the ’21 scams’ that allegedly took place during the last five years, when the saffron party was in power.
The party accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah headed government of ‘shielding’ those involved in the Rs 187 crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
“The Chief Minister has said 21 scams have taken place during the BJP rule. You have been in power for the past 15 months. Why did you take so much time to investigate these scams? We are ready for a probe,” Leader of the Opposition Party (LOP) R Ashoka said in a press conference.
He said, “The way Rs 88 crore of Valmiki Corporation was ‘Khata-Khat’ transferred to different bank accounts in Telangana, you should have ‘Khata-Khat’ investigated the allegations of irregularities against us.”
Ashoka, a former Deputy Chief Minister, accused Siddaramaiah of trying to put the blame on Valmiki Corporation and Union Bank of India officials apparently to shield Congress MLA B Nagendra, who resigned as the Tribal Welfare Minister and Valmiki Corporation Chairman Basanagouda Daddal.
“How much these officials would have taken? A very paltry sum. The large amount has gone to Congress leaders in Karnataka and Telangana where the Congress is in power,” the LOP claimed.
The alleged ‘scam’ came to light after the Accounts Superintendent of the Corporation Chandrasekharan P took his own life on May 26.
In the suicide note, Chandrasekharan alleged that there was an illegal transfer of Rs 187 crore belonging to the Corporation to various accounts.
The Congress government thereafter constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has so far arrested 11 people in connection with the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also probing the case after the Union Bank of India lodged a complaint with it regarding the illegal transfer of money.
Nagendra, who resigned after the scam came to light, is presently in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
