24-06-2025
Housing Minister should quit, BJP says and demands CBI probe into allotment ‘scam'
The former MLA Rajkumar Patil Telkur has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged corruption in allotment of houses under Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Telkur insisted that Minister for Housing and Minority Welfare B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan take moral responsibility for the rampant corruption in the housing scheme and resign from the Cabinet or Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should immediately suspend him.
He said that the two-year rule of the Congress-led government in the State is marked by a series of scams and corruption, including irregularities in the Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation and MUDA, diversion of funds meant for Dalit welfare under Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (SCP/TSP) funds.
'The Congress-led government is facing serious corruption allegations by its own legislators. We appreciate Mr. Patil for exposing the corruption in the housing scheme and MLA Raju Kage who has backed Mr. Patil's allegations,' he said.
'In allotment of houses, corruption begins when a staff arrives to capture GPS image of the allotted house. The gram panchayat president, Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs), MLAs of the respective taluks and the Housing Minister are involved in this corruption,' said.
Mr. Telkur demanded that the State government cancel the allotment list and re-allot houses to genuine beneficiaries by holding gram sabha meetings.
'Political stunt'
Another BJP leader Harshanand Guttedar, who is a former Zilla Panchayat vice-president and belongs to Aland taluk, addressing a press conference, said that MLA B.R. Patil's allegations against house allotment scheme exposes the Congress government's corruption. It is not that he has concern towards people, but (it is) a political stunt to gain mileage, Mr. Guttedar said.
'It is Mr. Patil's style of politics of vengeance. It is his way of expressing his disappointment over not being inducted into the State Cabinet. Mr. Patil is frustrated and he is on a mission to sink the Congress ship in the State,' Mr. Guttedar said.
The houses were allotted to beneficiaries in December 2024, Mr. Guttedar said and added that the alleged corruption took place under Mr. Patil's nose and asked why after being silent all these months, he has exposed it only now.
