KPSC scam: Kumaraswamy questions jailed IAS Gyanendra Kumar’s whereabouts, demands answers from Home Minister Priyank Kharge

Bengaluru, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government in Karnataka over the alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), questioning the movements of arrested IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar and demanding accountability from State Home Minister Priyank Kharge.

Addressing the media at the JD-S Headquarters, J.P. Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy asked, "Who sent Gyanendra to Delhi?" while raising questions over how the IAS officer travelled to the national capital amid the Enforcement Directorate's searches at his residence.

IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar was arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged KPSC scam and remanded in judicial custody. He had reportedly gone missing following ED searches at his residence and later appeared before the state CID's Special Investigation Wing for questioning.

Kumaraswamy asked how the IAS officer was able to leave Bengaluru while an investigation was underway.

"How did Gyanendra go to Delhi? Whose permission did he take to leave Bengaluru? When the Enforcement Directorate was conducting searches here, why did he suddenly go to Delhi? What did he do there? Who took him away after the incident involving a woman? Who eventually took him to Chennai? Who brought him back from Chennai and kept him at a resort near Devanahalli for three days?" the Union Minister asked.

"These are questions the Home Minister (Priyank Kharge) has to answer. Could all this have happened without his knowledge? Or was the State intelligence machinery asleep?" he said.

Kumaraswamy also questioned the state government's handling of officials facing allegations, asking whether the arrest of Gyanendra Kumar would lead to genuine action against corruption.

"An officer is arrested today, there is considerable action for a month or two, and then the same individual is given an even more influential posting. What message does this send? Does this amount to genuine action against wrongdoing, or does it simply create the conditions for further irregularities?" he asked.

He alleged that the Congress government lacked both the political will and intention to clean up the KPSC.

"The state government neither has the will nor the intention to clean up KPSC. If it genuinely wants to act, it must go beyond arresting one officer and answer the larger questions about how this system was allowed to function," Kumaraswamy said.

The JD-S leader also cited alleged discrepancies in the veterinary officer recruitment examination, claiming that candidates who secured high marks had been denied suitable ranks while candidates who had failed earlier examinations had secured top positions.

"Candidates who scored 95 per cent marks have not got an opportunity and are languishing somewhere at the bottom of the list. At the same time, candidates who failed twice have secured the second rank. Priyank Kharge must explain what kind of magic this is," he said.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over repeated controversies surrounding KPSC recruitment, Kumaraswamy said public confidence in the constitutional body had been badly affected.

"I feel disgusted even talking about KPSC. The institution is rotting. A system in this condition cannot deliver justice to the people of Karnataka," he added.

Kumaraswamy also referred to proceedings before the Karnataka High Court concerning alleged recruitment irregularities and cited the court's intervention in the recruitment of Junior Engineers in the Water Resources Department.

"The High Court is hearing these recruitment irregularities almost every day. The court has also intervened in the Water Resources Department recruitment. These are not issues that can simply be brushed aside," he said.

Taking a swipe at Priyank Kharge, Kumaraswamy recalled the latter's earlier statement that KPSC would be abolished if he came to power.

"You once said that if you get power, you would abolish KPSC. Now you have power. Clean it. Use whichever soap or detergent you want, but clean KPSC," Kumaraswamy said.

He also questioned Kharge over his earlier tenure as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, referring to allegations that had surfaced during that period.

"You were Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister earlier. Allegations were raised even then. Now you are the Home Minister (Priyank Kharge). Tell the people what you have done," he said.

Kumaraswamy also questioned the functioning of KPSC, saying that although it is a Constitutional body, repeated allegations of irregularities had raised concerns over its accountability.

"KPSC is a Constitutional body. But it appears to be behaving as though it is functioning at the government's pleasure. What exactly are the powers of the KPSC Chairman? What are the powers of its members? What is the authority of the Controller of Examinations?" he asked.

Responding to criticism from Priyank Kharge, Kumaraswamy said the Karnataka Home Minister should focus on allegations against the state government rather than diverting attention towards him.

"Priyank Kharge need not make light of me. The allegations are against him and his (Congress) government. Trying to divert them towards somebody else will not help him escape accountability," he added.

Kumaraswamy also defended his record as the Karnataka Chief Minister, saying he had never permitted irregularities during his tenure.

"I have served as Chief Minister of Karnataka on two occasions. At no point, and for no reason, did I allow irregularities to take place. I never issued an instruction or order in violation of the law," he said.

Recalling his tenure as the Karnataka Chief Minister in 2006, Kumaraswamy said he had appointed a person from the Dalit community as KPSC Chairman and denied allegations that he had favoured his relatives or aides.

"I did not bring in a relative or a close associate and place them in that position. I appointed a Dalit person. During my tenure, was even one question paper leaked? Priyank Kharge must answer that," he added.

Source: IANS