Skip to Content

Fountainhead of scams

up
302 users have liked.
Governance

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam has found that 15 per cent of the total aspirants paid bribes ranging from Rs. 45 lakh to Rs. 75 lakh fixed by Chairman, Gonal Bheemappa, and other members of the commission.

This 15 per cent made it to the personality test for the post of gazetted probationers earlier this year, the CID found, all of whom were eventually selected.


For the full report on this KPSC scam in "The Hindu", click here.

If the people who are hired to government jobs are corrupted on appointment itself, how can there be any hope of any 'public service' by them? As such, I would term this the fountainhead of scams. And, though this report was submitted as far back as in September, there has been no action on it at all from the government so far, even with the LokSatta party highlighting the matter through street demonstrations, fasts, etc.

Now, the CM, Sri Siddaramaiah, has so far enjoyed a fairly clean image, and that's how he became the choice for the post, after the BJP, KJP, JD (S), et al got trounced at the hustings because of their corrupt ways, over the past few years. Such a person, one would have thought, wouldn't hesitate any to take action. His not doing so, as such, is a major let down of his voters.

The CM should realise that the times have changed - the events in Delhi, where the AAP trounced the Congress, is a clear reflection of that. His party has been hinting at nominating reputed academics and professionals like Prof Rajeev Gowda, Mr Nandan Nilekani, etc, as its candidates from the city parliamentary constituencies. With the state-BJP scoring self goals through re-induction of BSY, the chances of the educated youth of the city pitching for these candidates looked quite bright. But, the inaction of the government on the CID report is certainly going to have its impact on their minds. And, there is every possibility of the AAP, LokSatta, NavBharat, and the like teaming up together to give expression to their resentment.

Time for the CM to act is now if he wants to redeem the situation.

Muralidhar Rao

Comments

murali772's picture

And now, self goals in addition

up
175 users have liked.

Amidst displeasure expressed by some Congress MLAs and flak from civil society activists, Congress MLAs D K Shiva Kumar and R Roshan Baig were sworn in as cabinet ministers here on Wednesday. Both Shiva Kumar and Baig were administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor H R Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan.

While the developments have evoked only negative responses, Siddaramaiah himself is said to be unhappy over the issue. He is said to have shared his unhappiness with some senior ministers and legislators whom he met before the swearing-in. He reportedly said the expansion has given an opportunity for the opposition and his detractors to attack him.
    
However, on the sidelines of the ceremony, Siddaramaiah denied that the expansion – done on the high command’s diktat – had given rise to discontent in the party. “Both should have become ministers long back,’’ he said.

- - - Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy has questioned Shiva Kumar and Baig’s induction into the cabinet when they are facing several charges. Doreswamy, who had written to Siddaramaiah when was forming the ministry to keep “tainted” persons out, on Wednesday said he would take up the issue again with the CM.
    
Writer U R Ananthamurthy said: “I like Siddaramaiah very much. The high command seems to have not learnt any lessons even after losing assembly elections in four states. Corruption is an issue.’’


For the full text of the report in the ToI, click here.

For all of RaGa's pious pronouncements, it doesn't look like the Congress can change its ways easily. With considerable resolve, the CM off-loaded a tainted Santosh Lad, but now to be on-loaded with these with far worse images, obviously by the High Command. And, if he is maintaining a silence over other burning issues like the KPSC scam, obviously again, it's the High Command that is holding him back.

Clearly there's no redeeming the Congress. They seem to be in competition with the BJP over scoring self goals. Perhaps then it's time for Sri Siddaramaiah to switch to AAP too, before he loses face before the likes of Sri H S Doreswamy, Sri U R Ananthamurthy, and many others like them.

Muralidhar Rao
murali772's picture

what remains is how fast KPSC members are put behind bars

up
186 users have liked.

There was no option at all after two chances were given to the KPSC. And the decision to scrap the entire selections list was not taken in haste. Chief minister Siddaramaiah sought legal opinion and it was discussed in the cabinet.

The above is the statement made by Dr HPS Mythri (in an interview to ToI - for the full interview, click here), who stood her ground and refused to yield to Rs 70 lakh bribe demand by a member of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to get assistant commissioner (revenue) post, but for which the scam on cash-for-post would not have come to light.

The CM has taken the right step, and the entire Civil Society perhaps needs to express support to him in his fight against the vested interests.

Yes, many genuine candidates have suffered in the process. But, that can't be helped when looking at things from the overall perspective. It's time for them to move on.

The only question that remains now is how fast the KPSC members involved are put behind bars.

Muralidhar Rao

Praja.in comment guidelines

Posting Guidelines apply for comments as well. No foul language, hate mongering or personal attacks. If criticizing third person or an authority, you must be fact based, as constructive as possible, and use gentle words. Avoid going off-topic no matter how nice your comment is. Moderators reserve the right to either edit or simply delete comments that don't meet these guidelines. If you are nice enough to realize you violated the guidelines, please save Moderators some time by editing and fixing yourself. Thanks!



about seo | blog