Kumaraswamy attacks Kharge over recruitment scams

Bengaluru: Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara? No, Minister Priyank Kharge, accusing him of making irresponsible statements over alleged recruitment irregularities and challenging the former chief minister’s role in exposing corruption.

Speaking to reporters at the JD(S) headquarters, J.P. Bhavan, Kumaraswamy reacted to Priyank Kharge’s allegation that he was the “father of the KPSC scam”. “The Home Minister of this state is speaking as though he has consumed alcohol in the evening. Did I conduct the recruitment of 17 Assistant Executive Engineers? Was I responsible for conducting the examinations for veterinary officers? These irregularities came to light after the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids,” Kumaraswamy said.

He alleged that the government would have suppressed the matter if the ED had not intervened. Questioning the role of officials in the recruitment controversy, he asked whether he was responsible for bringing officer Gnanendra and keeping him at a resort.

Kumaraswamy also criticised the government’s proposal to conduct recruitment examinations through the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) instead of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). He said several controversies had already surfaced in the recruitment process and alleged that financial irregularities within the KPSC had been established.

A committee headed by former minister R.V. Deshpande had been constituted to examine the issues, but there was no clarity on whether its report had been submitted, he said. “There are several unresolved issues. In this situation, the government should postpone the examinations. Conducting them without addressing these concerns will create further confusion,” he suggested.

On the issue of crop insurance compensation, Kumaraswamy accused the Congress government of failing to ensure that farmers received their rightful payments. He said the government was making announcements without delivering adequate benefits.

Referring to the recent increase in bus fares, he alleged that the government had called a sudden press conference to divert public attention from the fare hike after announcing financial assistance for farmers.