'Will Prove BJP's Scams': Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar On Pending Bills Of BBMP Contractors

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that a probe will be done to find 'genuine' bills that are with the contractors who have 'not been paid' by the previous BJP government in the state.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that the President of Karnataka State Contractors’ Association, Kempanna met him regarding the bills that were 'pending' by the BJP government. The minister said that the state government has ordered a probe to be done by an IAS officer to identify genuine works and said that accordingly dues will be cleared by the Congress government in the state. Talking to reporters over the corruption allegations levelled by BBMP contractor, Shivakumar said that he asked Kempanna why the BJP government could not release the payments to them.

"Kempanna (president of Karnataka State Contractors’ Association) is a respected man. He came and met me regarding the bills that were pending by the BJP government. I asked why the BJP government could not release it. We have ordered an investigation by an IAS officer," he said.

"BJP leaders have a lot of scams and I will prove their scams, we have also ordered for probe..," he added.

Earlier on Friday, the Karnataka State Contractors Association claimed that there is no question of corruption relating to the clearance of bills for public civil contracts in the state. According to PTI, he said that all the work has been stopped since the new government assumed office in May. He said that no contractor has spoken about corruption with him.  

"We will not call them (Congress) honest either now or in future. What is happening with us now is that no work has been taking place for the past three months. Corruption will happen only if work happens. Whether they (Congress) are 'Satya Harishchandra' or not will be known only if work has taken place. Here, no work has happened," he was quoted as saying by PTI.  

Kempanna further said that the Karnataka government has appointed a judge to investigate public works carried out by contractors during the previous BJP government. Accordingly, the contractors have prepared documents, he also said. 

Earlier, the contractors of the city civic body gave representations to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, former CM B S Yediyurappa and H D Kumaraswamy and other opposition leaders seeking intervention in getting pending dues released. According to a PTI report, they alleged the government has kept bills pending for the last 26 months.