Bengaluru: BJP State General Secretary and Member of Parliament Shobha Karandlaje accused the State Government of looting crores of rupees from the State exchequer in tenders floated for health-related schemes and Indira Canteens.

“This is nothing but plundering and Health Minister Ramesh Kumar is silent despite knowing that the fence is eating the crop,” she charged.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru yesterday, Shobha charged the State Government with violating rules while awarding contract for the ‘Mathru Poorna’ scheme meant to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women in rural areas.

“The State Government, headed by CM Siddharamaiah, must provide a platform to discuss the corruption that has been practiced by his Government since it assumed power in 2013. We have all the documents to nail the Government and the Ministers. Let them come for an open debate at the platform,” she said.  

“Mathru Poorna contract has been given to Veda Pharma which had quoted the highest bid. What is the secret behind this?” she asked. Besides, the Government has claimed the scheme as its own while it was totally sponsored by the Centre.

She accused the Government of calling for tender for Rs. 460 crore for issuing universal health cards without following Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement norms.

“I am told Health Minister Ramesh Kumar is not aware of this contract as it is being directly handled by the Chief Minister. I wonder why Ramesh Kumar is silent on this issue,” she said.

The Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP described the State Government as ‘Loot Ki Baat Sarkar,’ (referring to ‘Kaam Ki Baat’ programme to be launched by Siddharamaiah to counter PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’) as the “spate of ‘scams’” in the Government had overshadowed everything else.

She said it was easy for Siddharamaiah to be sarcastic about ‘Mann Ki Baat’ by claiming that he is running “Kaam Ki Baat Sarkar.”

She demanded that Siddharamaiah Government furnish answers to the charges of corruption or order a CBI probe.

She charged that Rs. 434 crore that the Centre had allotted for Karnataka AIDS Prevention Society was recalled by the Union Government because of absence an action plan on the part of the State Government.

The BJP leader charged that there has been misappropriation of funds in the setting up of Indira Canteens in Bengaluru. There has been misappropriation of Rs. 20 lakh per canteen, she said.