Responding to a leaked audio clip that surfaced on Monday, where Karnataka Congress MLA BR Patil is reportedly heard speaking about bribery in the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, Patil has clarified that he merely spoke about corruption within the housing body and did not name any minister.
“I haven’t taken any individual’s name. I’ve spoken about Sarfaraz, our housing minister’s private secretary. Have I made any allegations against the minister? I’ve only said corruption took place in Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. Let it be investigated,” said Patil.
The leaked audio has triggered a political flare-up in Karnataka with the BJP demanding the resignation of Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging widespread corruption in the Congress government in the state. Widely aired by news channels, the audio clip reportedly featured Patil warning of a shake-up in the government over housing-related irregularities.
Seeking to downplay the charges, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy said, “Corruption is not limited to our government alone. It exists in the Government of India, Karnataka and other states as well. It has become a global phenomenon. I agree it needs to be curbed. Patil has clarified that his statements are twisted. Zameer is one of the good ministers.”
Responding to Congress MLC Belur Gopalkrishna’s demand for the Housing Minister’s resignation, Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad said, “It is his personal opinion. The party and government will take a view morally and publicly. Anyone should not give a personal opinion. They should speak to the government.”
BJP wants CM, Housing Minister to resign
The BJP, however, appeared to be in no mood to relent. “The Chief Minister should just resign. It is not just one department or ministry which is corrupt. The entire government is corrupt. Every day, there is a new scam coming up in Karnataka,” said BJP MLC CT Ravi.
BJP state president BY Vijayendra alleged rampant corruption in the Karnataka government, pointing out that sitting MLAs are now talking about corruption in the government.
Maintaining that the state has been converted into an “ATM for Congress high command”, Vijayendra alleged that the Karnataka government has handed over the state to the “commission mafia”. He demanded the Housing Affairs Minister's resignation, saying, “The allegation that the Congress MLA has made is that without paying bribe, the common man is not getting houses allotted in rural areas. Another Congress MLA, Raju Kage, has stated that he is frustrated. The grants meant for the development of his constituency have not been released because the commission has not been paid.”
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