Shivamogga Congress alleges many BJP, RSS supporters got houses under Ashraya scheme in BJP rule in Karnataka

Referring to Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa’s allegations over the cancellation of the meeting convened to select beneficiaries for allotment of houses at Govindapura in Shivamogga, Congress party said that the BJP MLA is in a hurry to allot houses even though the locality lacks basic amenities.

The Shivamogga district unit of the Congress party has alleged that many ineligible applicants were allotted houses under the Ashraya housing scheme in Karnataka. “Many of those who got the houses were workers of the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),” alleged R. Prasanna Kumar, president of the District Congress Committee, in Shivamogga on December 9.

In a press conference, Mr. Prasanna Kumar said, during the BJP rule, many supporters of that party got houses meant for poor people. The government of Karnataka should identify such ineligible beneficiaries and take away the houses. “The same should be allotted to genuine applicants. We have submitted this plea before the Minister for Housing as well,” he said.

Referring to Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa’s allegations over the cancellation of the meeting convened to select beneficiaries for allotment of houses at Govindapura in Shivamogga, Mr. Prasanna Kumar said that the MLA is in a hurry to allot houses even though the locality lacks basic amenities.

The MLA had convened the meeting to select 652 beneficiaries through a lottery. He had invited the applicants to the programme. “The houses that are to be allotted do not have either power supply or drinking water facility. The approach road to the houses is also not ready. Where was the need to allot houses without fulfilling basic facilities,” Mr. Prasanna Kumar asked.

Besides that, the Congress leader said the meeting was convened without following protocol. The minister in-charge of the district was not informed.

“How can you select beneficiaries without inviting the minister in-charge of the district? We had shared out concerns and objections with the commissioner of the city corporation,” he stated.

Mr. Prasanna Kumar said the Congress leaders had put pressure on Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan to release funds to ensure roads and other basic amenities in the layout. “Many of the beneficiaries who got the houses allotted earlier have not occupied them due to lack of facilities. Hence, the corporation should finalise beneficiaries only after completing the on-going work,” he added.