Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra Siddaramaiah was embroiled in controversy on Thursday when one of his videos went viral on social media. In this video, he is seen issuing some instructions on the phone. After this, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by accusing him of corruption. He alleged that this conversation was related to the transfer of government employees.
If someone presents proof, he will retire from politics: Siddaramaiah
According to a report in news agency Bhasha, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other ruling party leaders said that the phone conversation was regarding the development of four to five schools using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. Siddaramaiah said that if anyone presents even one such example with proof that he has earned money by transferring officers, he will retire from politics.
Who is Vivekananda: Kumaraswamy
In the video, former Congress MLA Yatindra Siddaramaiah can be heard talking to his father about some Vivekananda and he is referring to some kind of transaction. According to Kumaraswamy, Yathindra spoke to R Mahadev, who was appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister. Demanding an investigation into the entire matter, the JDS state president wanted to know which list Yatindra was talking about and who was the Vivekananda mentioned in the conversation. Kumaraswamy asked Siddaramaiah why did you call him (Yatindra) and which list is that? What is his (Chief Minister) role? Is it his job to call his son and ask him what he (the Chief Minister) has to do?
BJP also attacked Siddaramaiah
On the other hand, BJP also attacked the Chief Minister and his son Yatindra. BJP posted on social media that this ‘Chief Minister’ (Yatindra) is more powerful than the real Chief Minister. Former MLA Yathindra ordered Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to do only what ‘I have given him’ and not more than that. The BJP alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is holding the post only nominally and all power is with his son Yatindra. The opposition party commented that the post of Chief Minister is vacant in the state.
Video conversation related to school buildings
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the phone conversation was related to school buildings being constructed with CSR funds. He claimed that Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa had given the list. Meanwhile, Karnataka unit president of Congress Shivakumar also said that the discussion was related to school development through CSR funds. He said that Yathindra, being a member of the Karnataka Development Program and chairman of the shelter committee, was talking about the use of CSR funds to provide benches and other furniture in the schools chosen by him.