A major political controversy erupted in Karnataka after the opposition BJP cited a survey claiming a 63% corruption rate in the state, only for the Upa Lokayukta to step in and clarify that the data was old and being used out of context.
Lokayukta Sets the Record Straight on Survey Data
Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa addressed the media on Friday, a day after the BJP's allegations. He clarified that the 63% figure originated from the India Corruption Survey 2019, which recorded citizens' experiences of paying bribes. He provided comparative data from that year: Karnataka at 63%, Goa at 10%, Rajasthan at 78%, Uttar Pradesh at 74%, Bihar at 75%, and Chhattisgarh at 57%.
Justice Veerappa expressed frustration that his remarks, including his statement that "corruption is more than a cancer," were being "publicised without providing context and was being misused by politicians." He emphasized he was merely reiterating India's 96th rank in Transparency International's global corruption index, calling corruption a major obstacle to the country's growth.
Political Firestorm Erupts in the Assembly
The clarification came after Opposition leader R Ashoka, citing the reported 63% remark, demanded that corruption cases be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This prompted a sharp and detailed rebuttal from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
In a post on social media platform X, Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of twisting facts. He pointed out that the 2019 survey data corresponded to the tenure of the BJP government under then-Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. "BJP's tenure was marked by multiple scams," Siddaramaiah stated, listing several allegations.
His allegations included:
- The "40% commission" regime.
- Scams in Covid-19 procurement.
- The Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scam.
- Illegalities in irrigation projects worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore.
- The suicide of contractor Santosh Patil following allegations against BJP leader KS Eshwarappa.
Siddaramaiah also noted that BJP MLC H Vishwanath had accused current state BJP president BY Vijayendra of irregularities. He further claimed that several relatives and friends of R Ashoka were jailed in the PSI scam.
Congress Leaders Hit Back at BJP Allegations
Calling Ashoka's attempt to link the 2019 figure to the current Congress government "sheer foolishness," Siddaramaiah defended his administration. "It is impossible to clean up the massive corruption you committed in just two and a half years. Give us some time — we will set everything right," he asserted, claiming his government was "cleaning up the mess it inherited."
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also joined the counterattack, suggesting Ashoka was unaware of the report's timeline. "Poor Ashoka doesn't know under whose tenure that report was submitted. He should first read and understand whose period it pertains to," Shivakumar said, challenging the opposition to raise the issue in the legislative session for a proper debate.
The episode highlights the intense political rivalry in Karnataka, with both parties using corruption as a key weapon ahead of future electoral battles, while an official's clarification seeks to anchor the debate in factual data.
