Bengaluru, Jan 19 (NationPress) - In response to the Congress-led government scheduling a special legislative session beginning January 21 to contest the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday claimed that the Congress is apprehensive about losing its "income shop" with the introduction of the G Ram G Act.

During a press briefing at the BJP's state office, Jagannath Bhavan, State BJP General Secretary P. Rajeev accused the Rural Development Department of rampant corruption, asserting that funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission have been severely misappropriated.

Rajeev stated that while the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Priyank Kharge often references the Constitution, he neglects to address its ongoing violations within his own department.

He elaborated that funds released by the Finance Commission to local bodies fall into two categories—tied and untied. The tied grants are disbursed in a fixed manner from the Centre to approximately 6,000 gram panchayats in Karnataka.

Minor adjustments can be made temporarily at the Commissioner’s office, but under the federal system, no part of these grants should be diverted or altered arbitrarily, he emphasized.

Nevertheless, he alleged that within Priyank Kharge’s department, thousands of crores have been misappropriated by distributing funds to Congress MLAs under the guise of purchasing high masks.

In the Hangal taluk of Haveri district alone, central grants intended for other gram panchayats were allegedly redirected to just 24 gram panchayats represented by Congress MLAs, he claimed.

“This is unconstitutional and not merely a breach of regulations,” Rajeev stated.

He pointed out that under the federal structure, funds provided by the Centre must be utilized strictly in line with the Constitution.

“Here, the Constitution itself has been violated,” he alleged, adding that efforts have been made to alert the central government about this situation.

He warned that if the misuse of 15th Finance Commission funds is brought to the Centre’s attention, Karnataka could face a halt in future grants, with the entire state government bearing the consequences of these actions.

Rajeev noted that despite requests through the association of gram panchayat presidents and members, the Commissioner has not yet responded.

He alleged that the Commissioner is evading a written response fearing it would implicate him.

“When thousands of crores under the 15th Finance Commission have been misused, what moral authority does Priyank Kharge have to stay as the minister in charge of the department?” he questioned.

Throughout Karnataka, an estimated Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per panchayat has purportedly been squandered across thousands of panchayats, leading to a scam valued in the thousands of crores, he asserted, calling for immediate transparency.

Simply suspending errant officers for a few months and then reinstating them will not eliminate the corruption, he added.

Rajeev mentioned that a complaint has been lodged with the Lokayukta concerning a scam estimated between Rs 10 crore and Rs 12 crore in Raibag taluk, where funds were allegedly misappropriated in the name of 52 projects under a single gram panchayat.

The complainant provided documentary evidence stating that the projects were never executed.

This, he alleged, exemplifies how Priyank Kharge’s Rural Development Department is operating in Karnataka.

He further claimed that bills were submitted and funds withdrawn for waste processing projects amounting to approximately Rs 5.36 lakh, despite the fact that the projects were never completed.

In response to the complaint, officials reportedly stated that no shed was built and that ledgers were purchased for the office instead.

Numerous such instances of misuse have occurred, he alleged, demanding an immediate inquiry and a report to the citizens of the state.

Rajeev contended that following the implementation of G Ram G, such scams have become harder to execute, which is why the Congress has taken to the streets.

“All your scams will be revealed to the public,” he warned.

He stated that Karnataka has received Rs 5.5 lakh crore under MGNREGA to date and challenged the Congress to provide even one example of the BJP engaging in such corruption.

Rajeev asserted that the Congress is shaken by the introduction of G Ram G, fearing that its "income shop" is being shut down.

He questioned why the Congress did not react with equal fervor when innocent individuals were killed in Pahalgam.

He alleged that the Congress is infamous for using Mahatma Gandhi’s name to obscure corruption.

He claimed that the Congress has never had the audacity to inform the nation that Mahatma Gandhi is not related to the Sonia Gandhi family.

According to him, Congress leaders conflate the name Gandhi with the Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi family.

Rajeev further stated that Priyank Kharge, who speaks extensively on various issues, fails to address the "decay and corruption" within his own department.

He mentioned submitting documentary evidence of corruption in MGNREGA, including instances where bills were raised for sarees allegedly distributed to schoolchildren and for veils supposedly provided to men.

As a result, Priyank Kharge had instructed the Belagavi CEO to take action, leading to officials arriving with nearly 50 vehicles and the suspension of one officer.

“How much public funds were squandered? How much corruption has taken place? What has transpired so far?” he inquired, adding that merely suspending a single PDO does not halt ongoing corruption.

State BJP Economic Cell Convener Prashanth G.S., state spokespersons Surabhi and M.R. Venkatesh, along with other leaders, were present during the press briefing.