H.D. Kumaraswamy at J.P. Bhavan in Bengaluru on October 13.
Bengaluru: Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday demanded that the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) postpone all its upcoming recruitment examinations, including the November 15 examination for 319 Gazetted Probationer (KAS) posts, until the commission is cleaned up.
Speaking to reporters at the JD(S) headquarters, JP Bhavan, Kumaraswamy said the ED and CID were probing examination and recruitment irregularities in the KPSC over the last three to four years, and an SIT was also investigating on the High Court’s direction. He claimed money transactions had been established, and said he had no faith that the commission would conduct examinations and recruitment transparently and honestly. Many job aspirants were making the same complaint, he said.
He said the committee formed under former minister R.V. Deshpande to reform the commission was yet to submit its report, and candidates were protesting at Freedom Park. Holding the examination in such a confused atmosphere would be unfair to honest and talented candidates, and the examination should be held only after the commission is fully cleaned up and transparency is brought in, he said.
Kumaraswamy alleged that farmers were being cheated on crop insurance despite paying their premium, and that the State government had not paid its matching grant. He alleged that the Chief Minister had announced Rs 2,500 compensation for farmers to divert attention when public anger erupted over the bus fare hike.
He said the Cabinet had approved road projects worth Rs 26,000 crore while Rs 39,000 crore was still due to contractors who had completed work, and called announcing new projects without clearing old dues ridiculous. He alleged that the State had brought in a ‘package system’ that sidelined local contractors in favour of those from Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, pushing local contractors’ accounts into NPAs.
Kumaraswamy also accused Congress leaders of falsely claiming credit for medical colleges in Ramanagara, saying he had decided to shift the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences to Ramanagara and released funds as Chief Minister in 2006, and had approved the medical college in Kanakapura during the coalition government.
On the occasion of Deepavali, he advised the government to give up hate, caste and vendetta politics, including what he called misuse of SITs, and work honestly for the State’s development, adding that he would support the government if it did good work.
More than 20 Congress leaders from Kunigal Assembly constituency, including former Zilla Panchayat members, joined the JD(S) in the presence of Kumaraswamy and former minister D. Nagarajaiah.
Also read: Kumaraswamy Joins JDS Protest in Pulakeshinagar, Alleges Rs 250 Crore Looted in Name of Works
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