BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from Bengaluru/Vijayapura has issued a warning, asserting that he will reveal alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 40,000 crore within the BJP-led government in Karnataka, headed by B S Yediyurappa, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

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Yatnal, who has been critical of Yediyurappa and his family, particularly after the appointment of his second son, B Y Vijayendra, as the BJP state president, accuses the government of widespread corruption in managing the Covid-19 crisis. The disgruntled BJP MLA questions the pricing of essential items, stating, “A mask that costs Rs 45 each, Mr. Yediyurappa, how much did your government spend on each of them during Covid? They had put a price of Rs 485 for each mask.” He further criticizes the management of beds, alleging that the BJP government claimed to have arranged 10,000 beds in Bengaluru, but the cost of renting these beds was exorbitant. Yatnal contends that the funds spent on renting beds could have been better utilized if the government had opted to purchase them.

Source: Rediff.com

When pressed to provide evidence, Yatnal directs reporters to the Public Accounts Committee, claiming that the necessary documents are available there. He specifically suggests contacting the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, who chaired the committee during the BJP rule. Yatnal discloses that he was offered the position of committee chairman but refused, citing his intention to make information public, resulting in his non-appointment.

Yatnal asserts, “There is Rs 40,000 crore irregularities during Covid-19 outbreak,” alleging massive financial misconduct during the pandemic. To emphasize the gravity of the situation, he shares a personal experience, recounting a hospitalization at a private superspecialty hospital with a bill of Rs 5.8 lakh. Despite being entitled to a medical claim from the government, Yatnal claims to have paid from his own pocket. This leads to the conclusion that, according to Yatnal, corruption during the pandemic may surpass the estimates made by the Congress party.

Source: The South First

In response to these allegations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urges Yatnal to approach the issue diligently and not treat it as a ‘hit-and-run’ case. Siddaramaiah proposes that if Yatnal is genuinely committed to combating corruption, he should submit all relevant information to the commission of inquiry formed under the leadership of retired High Court Judge Justice Nagmohan Das, which was established by the Congress government. Curiously, Siddaramaiah questions the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on these serious charges.