MLA fund allocation row: Congress following BJP-era precedent, says minister Parameshwara

Bengaluru: With the opposition parties alleging discrimination in the allocation of development funds to constituencies represented by their MLAs, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said the Congress government is following the precedent set by the previous BJP regime.

Ruling out any "revenge politics", he said, funds will be allocated based on the developmental needs of constituencies.

BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, had on Friday alleged discrimination, stating that while Rs 50 crore is being allocated to constituencies represented by Congress MLAs for developmental works, BJP and JD(S) constituencies will receive only Rs 25 crore each, according to available information.

The JD(S) too questioned whether it was right to discriminate by not giving equal grants to constituencies represented by BJP and JD(S) MLAs, while allocating Rs 50 crore each to Congress MLAs.

"Has the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) said that funds won’t be given to BJP or JD(S) MLAs? They are the ones who started this practice during the previous government. Then, the ruling party MLAs were given one amount, and the opposition MLAs were given a different amount," Parameshwara said in response to a question.

"They (BJP) had given Rs 50 crore to their MLAs, while we (Congress MLAs) were given Rs 25 crore, Rs 20 crore, or even Rs 10 crore. We are following the same system," he added.

Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara reiterated that no one has said funds will be denied to opposition MLAs—allocations will be based on the developmental needs of each constituency.

"Wherever more development work is needed, more funds will be allocated. In relatively developed constituencies, a smaller amount will be provided. This is the yardstick we will follow," he said, again dismissing claims of "revenge politics" by the Congress government.

Asked about BJP MLA Byrathi A Basavaraj being served a notice to appear before the police as part of the investigation into an FIR related to the murder of Shivakumar alias Biklu Shiva, Parameshwara said the MLA’s statement would be recorded.

"The investigation will proceed. His (Basavaraj’s) involvement or any connection to the case will be probed, and further action will be taken based on the findings," he added.

Responding to the BJP's claim that the case against Basavaraj is "politically motivated", Parameshwara said, "It has been about two and a half years since the Congress government came to power. How many politically motivated cases have been booked so far? If the complainant had not mentioned the MLA's name, it wouldn’t have come up at all. What political motive would the complainant have?" Regarding the demand for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged "mass murders, rapes, and burials" in Dharmasthala over the past two decades, the home minister said a preliminary investigation has begun.

"If a more detailed probe is deemed necessary, the government will take a call," he added.

"The jurisdictional police are conducting a preliminary inquiry based on a statement made by a former sanitation worker, who claimed that hundreds of bodies were buried in the area. If further investigation is warranted, the government will decide. When a preliminary inquiry is ongoing, why is there a demand for an SIT? What is the police department for, then?" Parameshwara asked.

Noting that he is aware a group of lawyers had met the chief minister demanding an SIT probe, he said the CM has assured that a decision will be made based on necessity.

"The police department doesn’t function based on demands made by various groups. There is a system in place, and if required, an SIT will be formed," he added.