Should Energy Minister K.J. George Be Dismissed Over Smart Meter Scam?

Bengaluru, July 24 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP has called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to remove Energy Minister K.J. George from his position and demand his resignation due to the alleged Smart Meter scam.

In a press conference on Thursday, former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MLA C.N. Ashwathnarayan accused the smart meter scam of involving a staggering Rs 15,000 crore, emphasizing that this is no minor issue.

"Now that the PCR concerning the smart meter scam has been accepted, will Minister George step down? If you (George) assert your respect for the law, resign immediately," he stated.

He mentioned that the BJP plans to engage with the Leader of the Opposition to amplify this issue in the Assembly.

"This corruption scandal has further tarnished Siddaramaiah's reputation. Despite the substantial sum involved, the Chief Minister's silence on this matter is perplexing. Minister George must resign," he insisted.

“There is no animosity or vendetta behind this. It is a move to safeguard public interest and uphold the party’s integrity. We have previously raised this issue in the Assembly through inquiries, but the CM has not provided a satisfactory response,” he added.

He further pointed out that a contract was given to an unqualified contractor, an agreement was made with a blacklisted company, regulations were disregarded, and exorbitant charges were imposed—even when unnecessary.

"Even after revealing these violations, this self-serving ATM government attempted to exploit citizens openly. We lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta police in April and subsequently filed a follow-up petition. Due to delays, we submitted a private criminal complaint to the court. Along with MLAs S.R. Vishwanath and Dheeraj Muniraju, we have approached the court," Ashwathnarayan explained.

"We even submitted a petition to the Governor. Following his guidance, we proceeded with legal action. We have requested permission for an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act," he continued.

He confirmed that approval to file a private complaint (PCR) was granted, and they received an oral order on Wednesday. The court has also directed that the case be reported to the Lokayukta.

Ashwathnarayan demanded the current contract be annulled, citing abuse of power, and reiterated his call for K.J. George's resignation.

BJP Legislative Council member K.S. Naveen also spoke, alleging that farmers in Chitradurga district have protested thrice. “The main objective behind implementing smart meters is profit-making,” he claimed.

Despite violating numerous regulations, the government has continued with smart meter acquisitions. “The Chief Minister and Energy Minister must account for this. George must resign, or the CM should demand his resignation,” he stated.