Kumaraswamy slams Rahul Gandhi's silence over KPSC recruitment scam

Bengaluru, Aug 30 (AHN) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government over the alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitments, questioning Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's silence on the issue.

The statements have assumed significance in the backdrop of arrest of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar in connection with the KPSC recruitment scam.

"Rahul Gandhi ji, where are you? Your KPSC is rotting. You travel across the country engaging with students and youngsters. When will you come to Bengaluru and hold talks with the victims of the KPSC irregularities? Let us see," Kumaraswamy said.

Addressing the media at the Janata Dal-Secular Headquarters, J.P. Bhavan, in Bengaluru, Union Minister Kumaraswamy questioned the Karnataka government's commitment to cleaning up the recruitment system.

"Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge speaks about the RSS every morning, but apparently cannot spot the mess in his own department. Candidates who did not deserve to be selected have allegedly been given appointments through compromised examinations. Is your (Congress) government really capable of cleaning up KPSC?" he asked.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the state government had previously brought in a person with a controversial record in the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and appointed him as KPSC Chairman in the name of reform.

"You once claimed that you would clean up the system and then brought a person who had already faced allegations of wrongdoing in BDA and made him the KPSC Chairman. Under his tenure, posts were allegedly put up for sale for crores of rupees. Today you boast that you will fill 75,000 government vacancies. Will those appointments also be made through such irregularities?" he asked.

"Where is Rahul Gandhi? Bring him to Bengaluru once. Let him sit with the youngsters and engage with them on KPSC. Then the truth will come out," Kumaraswamy said.

The Union Minister again challenged Rahul Gandhi to come to Bengaluru and interact directly with young people affected by the recruitment controversies.

"It is painful to even speak about the irregularities that have taken place during your (Karnataka) government. You are afraid to even open your mouth about the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineers-Grade I in the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department," he said.

Kumaraswamy alleged that question papers were taken to resorts and provided to candidates who had allegedly paid money.

"Question papers were allegedly taken to resorts and given to candidates who paid money. They were even trained on how to write the answers. And Rahul Gandhi, your leader, travels across the country giving speeches and engaging with students. Bring him to Bengaluru once. Let him sit face-to-face with youngsters and discuss the KPSC irregularities," the Union Minister said.