Amid Expulsion Threat, K’taka BJP MLA Vows to Expose ₹40,000 Crore Scam By Yediyurappa Govt

Bengaluru: Disgruntled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal issued a warning, threatening to expose alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 40,000 crore in the Karnataka BJP government led by B S Yediyurappa during the COVID-19 pandemic if he is expelled from the party. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was quick to seize on Yatnal’s claims, citing them as evidence of a ’40 per cent commission government’ during the BJP rule.

Facing calls for action from within the BJP ranks, Yatnal, who has been critical of Yediyurappa and his family, particularly after his son B Y Vijayendra’s appointment as the BJP state president, asserted, “They have done everything (huge corruption during Covid). Let them serve me a notice and try to expel me from the party; I will expose them.”

Yatnal alleged large-scale corruption in COVID-19 management, questioning the exorbitant costs associated with masks and hospital beds. He claimed that documents supporting his accusations were available with the Public Accounts Committee and directed reporters to consult Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, the committee’s chairman during the BJP rule.

Highlighting the purported irregularities, Yatnal asserted, “There is Rs 40,000 crore irregularities during COVID-19 outbreak.” He further claimed that bills worth Rs 8-10 lakh were generated for each patient during the BJP government, emphasizing the need for transparency.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, leveraging Yatnal’s statement, underscored the magnitude of corruption during the Covid-19 period. He urged Yatnal to substantiate his claims by providing information to the commission of inquiry led by retired High Court Judge Justice Nagmohan Das, established by the Congress government.

Expressing concern over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the charges, Siddaramaiah called for a thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of bringing corruption allegations to a logical conclusion.