Will submit documents only to judicial commission, says contractors’ association

The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) on Thursday said that it was willing to submit documents to a judicial commission instead of the Lokayukta to prevent “harassment to its members”, even as the Congress asked why the government was not willing to announce a judicial inquiry if it had nothing to hide

The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) on Thursday said that it was willing to submit documents to a judicial commission instead of the Lokayukta to prevent “harassment to its members”, even as the Congress asked why the government was not willing to announce a judicial inquiry if it had nothing to hide.

The association, which is expected to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time seeking his intervention to curb corruption in public works, is seeking its executive committee’s nod for the letter next week, as the office-bearers have agreed to the move.  

“We will submit all the documents to prove our allegations to a judicial commission since the Lokayukta has officials from the State government. There are possibilities that the contractors could be targeted if complaint is made to the Lokayukta,” KSCA president D. Kempanna told The Hindu.

He said that the association did not want to expose the contractors, contracts, and the documents involved before the Lokayukta.

Mr. Kempanna’s reaction came after the leaders of the BJP, including Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, challenged the association to prove their allegation of corruption against a Minister that they levelled on Wednesday by complaining to the Lokayukta.

The association president pointed out that about ₹20,000 crore of bills, many including as old as 3 years, were pending for clearance. “Already contractors would have borrowed to execute the work, and the delay in payment could further trouble them.”

On allegations that the association was acting on the behest of the Congress, Mr. Kempanna said, “We are not aligned with any political party. When Congress leaders had invited us for a meeting, we went. Similarly, when the Chief Minister had convened the meeting, we took part. If BJP leaders call us, we will go there too.”