Siddu to blame for Valmiki Corpn, Muda scams: BJP leader Ashoka

The Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Assembly and BJP leader R Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is culpable in corruption cases the state government is allegedly involved in.

- Maqsood Maniyar & Yashaswini Krishna I NT

Speaking exclusively to News Trail, he said the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited (KMVSTDCL) illegal money transfer scam happened while Siddaramaiah headed the Finance Ministry. Ashoka also argued that the CM had misused his position to acquire compensatory sites of greater value for his wife Parvati in relation to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) case. Here are excerpts from an interview.

Q. The Opposition has been accused of implicating CM Siddaramaiah in corruption cases where he wasn't personally involved. His argument is that he had no role to play in the Valmiki Corporation scam and that the case is being investigated and the money pilfered is being recovered. How do you respond?

A. CM Siddaramaiah also holds the finance portfolio. How can a multi-crore scam like the Valmiki Corporation scam happen without the involvement of the finance ministry? Wasn't the department aware of the illegal transfer of the Valmiki Corporation's huge funds from the Union Bank's branch in Vasant Nagar to MG Road branch?

When such a huge amount was transferred, why didn't the department's Principal Secretary conduct any inquiry or was he ordered to remain silent? Didn't the irregularity come up in the meetings held by the Chief Secretary or did they deliberately turn a blind eye? Weren't the funds transferred to MG Road branch to escape the scrutiny by NTT (Number Theoretic Transform) module as only those fully conversant with NTT module norms could carry out such huge misuse of funds? Isn't it correct that Finance Department top officials had colluded in the fraud?

Q. Why do you think the Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) case merits the CM's resignation?