Congress charging 5% extra to release contractor bills: HDK

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday trained his guns on the ruling Congress again accusing them of engaging in corrupt dealings. This time, he alleged that the State government is withholding Rs 675 crore from contractors, demanding five per cent commission on each of their works in addition to the 40 per cent levied by the erstwhile BJP administration, all of this to merely release the money.  

“The Congress, which came to power after relentlessly criticizing the BJP government on 40 per cent commission, is fixing a rate for everything. They are charging a five per cent commission to release the letter of credits for works approved by the previous government,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

“What creates doubt is that Rs 675 crores hasn’t been released. N ow they’re demanding that one should pay a five per cent cut to have the money released. So they have to pay five per cent in addition to the 40 per cent already paid, does it then make this government a 45 per cent government?” he asked. The JD(S) leader also reiterated the allegation that the Congress led State government was demanding bribes from their officers in return for transfers that they favoured or for that matter, postings of their choice.