Tangadagi directly involved in piecework scam, says Shettar

BJP leader Jagadish Shettar on Friday said Minor Irrigation Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi was directly involved in the illegal awarding of tenders for piece works worth about Rs 34 crore for taking up development of tanks in the state.

Shettar, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, told reporters in Bengaluru that the government’s move to hand over the probe to the CID to investigate into the illegalities (which happened in the Kushtagi division of the minor irrigation department) and suspension of 26 engineers was only an eyewash.

It was found that fake bills were created without completing the works. “Why is no action being taken against the contractors who produced the fake bills. There is proof that most of the contractors are close aides of Tangadagi,” Shettar said.

He said criminal cases should be filed against the contractors and the minister’s involvement investigated. He demanded that Tangadagi immediately submit his resignation.

However, Shettar did not produce any documents to prove his charges. The BJP leader also accused the government of trying to delay the appointment of the Lokayukta and keep the Anti-Corruption Bureau defunct so that there is little room for filing anti-corruption cases.

He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should understand that Governor Vajubhai Vala was not in favour of appointing Law Commission Chairman S R Nayak as the Lokayukta. He said it was illogical to recommend Justice Nayak’s name once again to the Governor.

Shettar also sought the resignation of Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya for his controversial “brothel comments”. Anjaneya, at a programme earlier this week, had said some private school managements ran their institutes like brothels.
DH News Service