Pai Criticizes Siddaramaiah’s Shift, Calls Out Corruption in Government
In a recent statement, Pai acknowledged Siddaramaiah‘s previous success as a finance minister, commending his role in transforming Karnataka into a revenue-surplus state. However, he expressed concerns over the current focus on social justice, questioning the timing and sincerity of such a shift. “He was an effective finance minister, but now he’s talking about social justice. Where was this focus when he ruled for 10 years?” Pai asked, challenging the change in narrative.
Pai clarified his support for direct benefit transfers (DBT) aimed at helping the poor, but stressed the importance of properly identifying beneficiaries to ensure the funds are effectively used. “I support DBT, but it’s crucial to identify the poor and use the money for their children’s education and skill development,” he emphasized, stressing the need for long-term solutions to foster sustainable progress.
Turning to the issue of corruption, Pai accused both politicians and officials of widespread involvement. He labeled the current government as possibly the “most corrupt” Karnataka has seen, surpassing even the BJP’s tenure. Pai claimed that ministers and officials were regularly extorting bribes for routine tasks such as property tax assessments and plan approvals.
He also highlighted inefficiencies in Bengaluru’s civic systems, alleging manipulation in the approval of property taxes and software handling. “The BBMP plan approval software is manipulated, and there are three separate databases for property taxes to ensure that money keeps flowing,” Pai said.
Pai also revisited allegations from Bommai’s tenure, where corruption in government contracts was a major issue. While he called Bommai a “good man,” Pai criticized his lack of action during his time as chief minister, adding that Bommai was ultimately accused of being involved in a 40% corruption rate in contracts.
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