Bengaluru, September 2: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has said that everyone found guilty in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam will face strict punishment.
Khandre alleged that Basavaraj Kannale, who has been arrested in connection with the KPSC recruitment scam, was a BJP worker from the Bhalki Assembly constituency and had been moving around saying that he would contest the Assembly election against Khandre.
Clarifying a photograph that has gone viral on social media, Khandre said Kannale had visited his office in Bengaluru a few months ago after, according to Kannale, being appointed as a Syndicate member of Tumkur University on the recommendation of BJP State leaders.
“Kannale told me that he had been appointed as a Syndicate member by the Governor on the recommendation of BJP State leaders and asked me to bless him. He draped a shawl around me and offered sweets. I told him that I do not eat sweets and asked him to eat them himself,” Khandre said.
Khandre said that when Kannale was leaving his office, he told him that he would contest the election against him from Bhalki. “I told him that everyone has an opportunity in a democracy and that he could make his own attempt,” Khandre said.
‘A Public Representative Has to Be Courteous’
Khandre said it was the responsibility of an elected representative to speak courteously when a person from his constituency came to inform him about being appointed to a university's Syndicate.
He alleged that despite having information about the circumstances surrounding the photograph, a former Union Minister and defeated MP had released it with political motives and made baseless allegations against him. Khandre also accused JD(S) leaders of using the photograph for political propaganda. “Today, JD(S) leaders have circulated this photograph and are trying to make people believe a falsehood as truth,” he alleged.
He further pointed to photographs circulating on social media in which Kannale is seen wearing a shawl bearing the BJP symbol and posing in the front row alongside BJP leaders. Khandre also claimed that photographs showing BJP leaders accepting sweets from Kannale were available on social media. “Let the BJP and JD(S) leaders speak about these photographs,” he said.
Calls for a Comprehensive Investigation
Khandre alleged that the former Union Minister and defeated MP had close links with Kannale and said the matter was well known in Bidar. He accused political opponents of attempting to shift the blame onto others to conceal their own alleged wrongdoing.
Using the Kannada proverb comparing such behaviour to a monkey eating curd and wiping it on a goat's mouth, Khandre alleged that some people were trying to escape responsibility. He questioned whether those raising allegations were themselves connected to the alleged irregularities involving Kannale and called for a transparent and comprehensive investigation.
‘No One Should Be Spared’
Khandre said those responsible for cheating deserving and talented candidates should face strict punishment, irrespective of their political or social standing.
“Those involved in the recruitment scam must be identified and punished. No matter how influential they are, those who cheated talented candidates should face strict punishment. I am confident that our government will take action,” he said.
He also said that a detailed investigation into the associates and close contacts of those allegedly involved in the recruitment scam could reveal further details, including the alleged links of the former MP. Minister reiterated that the investigation should establish the facts and ensure that those actually responsible are brought to justice.
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KPSC scam, Eshwar Khandre, Basavaraj Kannale, KPSC recruitment scam, Karnataka recruitment scam, Bhalki, Citizen News Puttur