Congress leader dares BJP for an open debate

Mysore/Mysuru: Alleging massive corruption in the purchase of COVID-19 protection kits and other equipment, KPCC Spokesperson M. Lakshman has challenged BJP leaders for an open debate on the issue.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan near the City Railway Station here on Saturday, Lakshman claimed that his Congress party has a 300-page document  that exposes the State BJP Government’s massive corruption in the purchase of COVID-19 protection kits and medical equipment.

Maintaining that the State Government  had initially agreed to buy 10 lakh N-95 facemasks for Rs.29.5 crore, Lakshman alleged that the Government later hiked the purchase price to Rs.46 crore, resulting a Rs.16 crore scam.

He further alleged that the Directorate of Medical Education, which had initially proposed to buy medical equipment at a cost of Rs.464.81 crore, later purchased the equipment at a cost of Rs.815.85 crore, which reeks of corruption.

He further alleged that the Government had purchased 500 ml sanitisers at an exorbitant cost of Rs.600 when the actual cost is Rs.78 and Thermal Scanners at a cost of Rs.9,000 each, when the market price is Rs.3,500.

He also alleged a big scam in the purchase of ventilators, which have been purchased from a Delhi-based fictitious company at a cost of Rs.25 lakh each, when the market price is only Rs.8 lakh.

Supporting Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah’s assertion that the State Government’s corruption has been exposed in the pen-drive that is reportedly in custody of BJP MLA Murugesh Nirani, Lakshman said that the Congress will soon bring out a hand-book on the corrupt deals of the BJP Government and distribute the same to every household.

KPCC Spokesperson and former Chairperson of Karnataka State Women’s Commission Manjula Manasa urged the Union Government to come out with details regarding the donations received under PM CARES Fund.

She also demanded a probe into the funds received by organisations such as Vivekananda Foundation, India Foundation and Overseas Friends of BJP.

City Congress President R. Murthy, leaders Hedathale Manjunath, M. Shivanna, Mahesh, Eshwar Chakkadi and others were present at the press meet.