Pramesh S Jain
*Visits KPSC with delegation and holds discussion with Chairman and Secretary.
*Congress government has taken no steps to provide drought relief.
Opposition Leader R.Ashoka has demanded that the internal inquiry ordered by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) into the appointment of veterinary officers be cancelled immediately,and that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court.
This follows serious allegations of bribery amounting to Rs 80 lakh in the recruitment process.
He has written a letter in this regard to the Chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
Along with Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy,former Minister Suresh Kumar,and representatives of the candidates,he visited the Commission and discussed the matter with the Chairman and Secretary.
Extremely serious allegations have emerged that bribes of up to Rs 80 lakh were taken from candidates in the appointment of veterinary officers.
These charges have shocked the people of the state and lakhs of job aspirants.
According to media reports,notices have been issued to hundreds of candidates in this case,and there is suspicion of irregular transactions involving crores of rupees.
Serious allegations have also been levelled regarding the role of officials,middlemen,and other influential persons.
These developments have raised questions about the very credibility of the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
In such a situation,the KPSC itself proceeding to conduct an internal inquiry through its own officers is highly inappropriate and unjustified.
When serious charges of corruption are levelled against the institution itself,allowing the same body to investigate the allegations against it violates the fundamental principles of natural justice.
The public and lakhs of job aspirants have lost all faith in any internal inquiry by a discredited KPSC.
Instead,strong suspicions have arisen among aspirants and the public that this is merely another eye-wash exercise to cover up the case.
Given the gravity of the allegations,it is impossible for any internal inquiry by the KPSC to command public confidence, he stated.
This case is not limited to just one recruitment process. It concerns the dreams,hard work,and right to justice of lakhs of youth who have dedicated the precious years of their lives to rigorous preparation for competitive examinations.
The mere suspicion that public service recruitments are being conducted on the basis of money and influence rather than talent and merit is a major blot on the democratic administrative system.Hence,he demanded that the following steps be taken immediately:
1.The internal inquiry ordered by the KPSC must be cancelled at once.
2.The case must be entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court.
3.A complete investigation into the veterinary officers’ recruitment process must be conducted,covering the role of officials, middlemen,beneficiaries, and all other connected persons.
4.The scope of the inquiry must also examine whether similar irregularities have taken place in other recent recruitment processes conducted by the KPSC.
5.The inquiry report must be made public, and strict legal action must be taken against the guilty without yielding to any influence.
6.Steps must be taken to conduct a re-examination based on the representations of the aspirants for the veterinary officer posts.
After submitting the letter,speaking on the issue,he said that those who paid money were taken outside Bengaluru,to other states,given question papers,and made to prepare.
There are allegations that meritorious candidates scored lower marks.Everyone knows that nothing happens in the KPSC without money.
The belief that appointments here are made purely on merit must be restored among the people.Four complaints have been filed against the KPSC so far,but the police do not investigate them properly.
The guilty are never properly punished.If no action is taken on this,we will take to the streets and launch an agitation.
It is the habit of the Congress that when a question paper leak occurs in the state,officials must take responsibility,but when it happens at the Centre,the minister must take responsibility,he said.
Even in the last Assembly session,when the KPSC scam was discussed,former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had admitted it.
I had demanded that eight members in the KPSC were enough, and the government is taking action on that. Irregularities have taken place in the examination for 400 posts in the Animal Husbandry Department,and an audio has been released.
It has come to light that people are being assured of jobs if they pay Rs 80 lakh.Altogether,it works out to about Rs.2 crore per post.
It is being said that an IAS officer is arranging it.Jobs have already been given to two persons.The government must reveal who this officer is.There is suspicion that the government itself is involved,he said.
*Rs 800 crore irregularity:
Even the KPSC Chairman has been suspended for irregularities.Rahul Gandhi had agitated over NEET.But here,despite all this, there has been no agitation.
Even Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has not spoken on this.If irregularities have occurred in 400 posts,it means a total deal of Rs.800 crore has taken place.
Meritorious candidates struggle to score 350 marks,while ordinary students have scored 400,he said.
*No relief:
He has visited Mysuru and Mandya districts to inspect the drought situation and will next visit Ballari, Vijayanagara,and Chitradurga districts.
But so far,no drought relief has been provided.The government is only insisting that the Centre should give money.
Without the state government declaring drought,the Centre will not send a team of officials.
How is relief possible if you yourselves have not met anyone at the Centre?he asked.
The Chief Minister has visited a few drought-affected areas merely for formality.But the Deputy Commissioners have not reported how much money has been given.
Giving just Rs 1 crore to one taluk is of no use.Even repairing borewells with this money is difficult.A report should have been prepared and submitted to the Central government immediately,he said.
As elections approach,cases are being registered against BJP leaders.Even though Prakash Raj,Bhagavan and others have made derogatory remarks about Hindu religion,no action is taken against them. During the NEET protests,some people held posters and challenged the police.
The police who took no action against them have filed an FIR only against C.T. Ravi.His statement has been twisted. An agitation will be held against this in Chikkamagaluru, he said.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been saying for ten years that he is retiring from politics.When elections approach, he again contests.
He is enacting this drama to intimidate senior leaders.No leader is permanent.When one leader goes, another rises, he said.
