Looking back: CM Siddaramaiah's year book of scams and scandals

Opinion
       17/02/2018
                  1140

Sub : Looking back: CM Siddaramaiah's year book of scams and scandals
Ref : Media reports

 From the Rs 70 lakh watch to Meti’s sex tape, the Karnataka government’s year in review.

From expensive watches to sex tapes, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka saw an action-packed year of scams and scandals.

With the new year just around the corner, here’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s year book of controversies.

When the CM wore a Hublot watch

In February 2016, Siddaramaiah found himself embroiled in a controversy when JD(S) leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy alleged that Siddaramaiah’s watch costs Rs 70 lakh.

This issue became a point of an extended controversy with the Opposition stalling the Assembly proceedings, demanding a probe into the matter. The CM dismissed the claims and said that the watch was gifted to him by a friend. He eventually declared it a state asset and deposited the watch with the state secretariat.

Allegation of nepotism

Just when the CM seemed to have disentangled himself from the watch controversy, another issue rocked his boat. In April, the contract to set up a CT and MRI lab at the government-run Bengaluru Medical College was given to Matrix Imaging Digital Solutions, a firm headed by the CM’s so Dr Yathindra.

The CM was accused of favouring his son. Rubbishing the claims, the CM said that he had no knowledge of the firm’s bid. However, later in the month Yathindra quit his post at Matrix.

Irrigation scam

The Siddaramaiah government faced yet another scam just after a month. In May, Irrigation Minister suspended 26 engineers in relation to a Rs 34 crore scam in development of minor irrigation tanks in Koppal and Kushtagi taluks.

The sacking of 14 Ministers

Just ahead of the cabinet reshuffle, Siddaramaiah sacked 14 ministers citing reasons of non-performance. P T Parameshwar Naik, one of the 14, had landed in a controversy after DySP of Kudligi, Anupama Shenoy had resigned alleging that Naik had interfered with her work.

The death of a cop

The death of Mangaluru DySP Ganapathi at a lodge in early July dragged the Siddaramaiah government into another scandal.

Since Ganapathy’s death, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, had demanded Bengaluru Development Minister KJ George’s resignation, as Ganapathy had alleged that George had harassed him when he was the home minister. George was relieved of the post and reinstated after the CID gave him a clean chit.

Backing the steel flyover

The battle between the government and flyover beda activists intensified and the Siddaramaiah government faced more flak when CM Siddaramaiah backed the flyover saying that the government would go ahead with the project in October.

In protest, around 10,000 Bengalureans had formed a human chain. The project has faced severe criticism over lack of transparency.

***

NOTE :

1.

‘Fanatic’ or ‘freedom fighter’: The renewed debate on Tipu Sultan

As Assembly elections in Congress-ruled Karnataka approach, prejudices and political agenda-making have given rise to shrill disagreement

Row over Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations in Karnataka: Who really was Tipu? Usurper or saviour of Mysuru?

Politics over Tipu Sultan Jayanti is absurd and dangerous

The row is an attempt to polarise society and keep the focus away from core issues.

The State government has decided to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti in a grand manner. Since 2015, the Congress-led State government has been celebrating it, which has been opposed by the BJP. Following opposition to the event, violence took place in Kodagu district in 2015. In 2016, the government shifted the responsibility for organising the celebrations from the Minority Department to the Kannada and Culture Department, to make it a cultural event.

2.1

Bellandur lake foam: “What is this going on? How are you getting so much of foam?” an NGT bench had asked Karnataka government in May. (Source: ANI_News/Twitter)

2.2
Varthur Lake: After heavy rain, chemical 'snowfall' in Bengaluru

3.

Karnataka police officer who alleged VIP treatment for Sasikala in jail transferred
In a report submitted to the Home Department and Director General of Police for Prison Department H N Sathyanarayana Rao, Roopa had alleged that the Prison Department officials were providing VIP treatment to V K Sasikala for a bribe of Rs 2 crore.

4.

Roopa, a 2000-batch IPS officer who joined as DIG on June 23, submitted a report alleging irregularities and corruption at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru (Source: ANI_News/Twitter)

5.

Indira canteens scam: Is state govt filling their pockets at the cost of peoples’ meal?

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had provided Rs 100 crore in the state Budget in the 2017-18 fiscal to run the canteens in all 198 civic wards on the lines of the popular ‘Amma Unavagam’ in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, started by the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, late J Jayalalithaa.

6.

7.

DySP Ganapathi suicide case returns to haunt Siddaramaiah: Forensic report says call details erased
BJP State President Yeddyurappa demanded that Karnataka CM step down.

Thank you for reading

            JAIHIND.

 VANDE MATHARAM

The President’s Medal was awarded to DIG D Roopa for meritorious service. (Source: Twitter/ANI)