<p>Hubballi: Observing that the Congress government in the state is paying more than Rs 13 crore per year to Congress workers appointed to ‘unnecessary’ guarantees implementation committees at taluk and district levels, Union minister Pralhad Joshi stated that such committees are not needed when direct benefit transfer (DBT) technology is being used.</p><p>“State government is engaged in broad daylight robbery of public money, by unnecessarily paying to Congress workers when officials and elected representatives are there to supervise government schemes, by raising the borrowings up to Rs eight lakh core, and by corruption. But, it does not have money for diesel and repair of buses,” he said.</p><p>Joshi told reporters in Hubballi on Thursday that guarantee schemes are also not implemented properly though the committees, and some Congress MLAs are also unhappy about such committees holding meetings. However, they are not expressing it openly, he added.</p><p>Guarantee implementation committees do not select beneficiaries, but officials do that. Money is transferred through DBT. Were such committees constituted for corruption? What responsibilities will the officials and elected representatives take if such committees are required? he asked.</p><p>The union government in one year has done Rs 5.41 lakh crore DBT under 324 schemes of 54 departments, and Rs 3.48 lakh crore was saved in five years. After Modi introduced DBT, it became inevitable for the state government also to follow this model. In fact, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had criticised Jandhan account opening, Joshi said.</p><p><strong>‘Rahul must speak’</strong></p><p>“Paying Congress workers through such committees is not in practice in any other state. Rahul Gandhi who speaks about ideals should tell the government to stop it. People should raise voice against this, through letter, e-mail and social media,” Joshi noted, adding that acts like giving preference to Congress works in revising BPL cards should not happen but it should be taken up in a fair manner.</p><p><strong>Cong allegations</strong></p><p>Countering Congress’ allegation that RSS workers were appointed by some ministers in Maharashtra, Joshi said that they might have been appointed under the provision of having private persons as PAs on contractual basis as per the personal staff quota of ministers. “We don’t have objection if Congress ministers have their party workers as their personal staff on contractual basis as per rule, but paying Congress workers by forming such committees is nothing but betraying the people. Siddaramaiah is ‘Sulluramaiah’,” he said.</p><p><strong>‘Let DKS endorse CM’s remarks’</strong></p><p>“Siddaramaiah had to say that he would be the CM for the full term, because of the confusion in the Congress. Let D K Shivakumar and his supporters say that,” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi challenged. “Let Shivakumar say he is not a claimant for CM’s post. Siddaramaiah’s statement is big flaw and a big issue,” Joshi said. </p><p>He also said the BJP would legally and politically fight against any move for religion-based reservation, and such quota cannot be given with a mere statement by Zameer Ahmed Khan. Regarding the dissidence in BJP, Joshi said all such meetings are stopped now.</p><p>Regarding Justice Nagmohandas Commission submitting report on 40% commission allegation against the previous BJP government, Joshi asked whether or not the High Court chief justice was consulted while forming this judicial commission or any notice was issued to the concerned by the Commission. “They (Congress) can’t threaten BJP. Let the report be released. We will fight legally and politically based on the contents of the report,” Joshi said.</p>
<p>Hubballi: Observing that the Congress government in the state is paying more than Rs 13 crore per year to Congress workers appointed to ‘unnecessary’ guarantees implementation committees at taluk and district levels, Union minister Pralhad Joshi stated that such committees are not needed when direct benefit transfer (DBT) technology is being used.</p><p>“State government is engaged in broad daylight robbery of public money, by unnecessarily paying to Congress workers when officials and elected representatives are there to supervise government schemes, by raising the borrowings up to Rs eight lakh core, and by corruption. But, it does not have money for diesel and repair of buses,” he said.</p><p>Joshi told reporters in Hubballi on Thursday that guarantee schemes are also not implemented properly though the committees, and some Congress MLAs are also unhappy about such committees holding meetings. However, they are not expressing it openly, he added.</p><p>Guarantee implementation committees do not select beneficiaries, but officials do that. Money is transferred through DBT. Were such committees constituted for corruption? What responsibilities will the officials and elected representatives take if such committees are required? he asked.</p><p>The union government in one year has done Rs 5.41 lakh crore DBT under 324 schemes of 54 departments, and Rs 3.48 lakh crore was saved in five years. After Modi introduced DBT, it became inevitable for the state government also to follow this model. In fact, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had criticised Jandhan account opening, Joshi said.</p><p><strong>‘Rahul must speak’</strong></p><p>“Paying Congress workers through such committees is not in practice in any other state. Rahul Gandhi who speaks about ideals should tell the government to stop it. People should raise voice against this, through letter, e-mail and social media,” Joshi noted, adding that acts like giving preference to Congress works in revising BPL cards should not happen but it should be taken up in a fair manner.</p><p><strong>Cong allegations</strong></p><p>Countering Congress’ allegation that RSS workers were appointed by some ministers in Maharashtra, Joshi said that they might have been appointed under the provision of having private persons as PAs on contractual basis as per the personal staff quota of ministers. “We don’t have objection if Congress ministers have their party workers as their personal staff on contractual basis as per rule, but paying Congress workers by forming such committees is nothing but betraying the people. Siddaramaiah is ‘Sulluramaiah’,” he said.</p><p><strong>‘Let DKS endorse CM’s remarks’</strong></p><p>“Siddaramaiah had to say that he would be the CM for the full term, because of the confusion in the Congress. Let D K Shivakumar and his supporters say that,” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi challenged. “Let Shivakumar say he is not a claimant for CM’s post. Siddaramaiah’s statement is big flaw and a big issue,” Joshi said. </p><p>He also said the BJP would legally and politically fight against any move for religion-based reservation, and such quota cannot be given with a mere statement by Zameer Ahmed Khan. Regarding the dissidence in BJP, Joshi said all such meetings are stopped now.</p><p>Regarding Justice Nagmohandas Commission submitting report on 40% commission allegation against the previous BJP government, Joshi asked whether or not the High Court chief justice was consulted while forming this judicial commission or any notice was issued to the concerned by the Commission. “They (Congress) can’t threaten BJP. Let the report be released. We will fight legally and politically based on the contents of the report,” Joshi said.</p>
