K'taka: Governor cuts short address; Shivraj Chouhan calls Cong ‘factory of lies’

Bengaluru, Jan 22 (IANS) Responding to the Governor declining to read out the customary address at the joint session, Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday alleged that the Karnataka government wanted the Governor to make “false and untrue” statements on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He further claimed that the Congress party is a “factory of lies”. 

Governor Gehlot on Thursday declined to deliver the customary address prepared by the state government to the joint session of the state legislature. He limited his address to a few lines and abruptly ended it, triggering dramatic scenes in the Assembly.

Speaking at a press conference in the city, Chouhan said the Congress is a “factory of lies” and a “shop of illusions”. “Democracy was murdered in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly today, and even the Constitution was hurt,” he alleged. The Governor’s address prepared by the government contained falsehoods and it was not possible to read it, he said.

He alleged that the Congress is a party that guarantees commission, corruption and bad governance. To hide its failures and inefficiency, it is making allegations against the Central government, he said.

Giving details of alleged corruption committed by the Congress in MGNREGA, he said the irregularities in Yadgir district had become national and international news, and he displayed newspaper clippings. Men dressed in sarees and posed as women to loot MGNREGA funds, he alleged.

He claimed that hundreds of such corruption cases have been exposed through social audits. Even after informing the state government, though there was scope to recover Rs 107.78 crore, no action was taken in 3,551 cases, he said, expressing displeasure. Transparency no longer exists here, he alleged.

Chouhan said the CAG report had directed Lokpal authorities to recover Rs 24.12 crore, but only Rs 2.47 crore was recovered.

A complaint had been received regarding irregularities in Kalaburagi district, following which his ministry sent a team, he said. In 2024-25, 21 works were to be executed in five gram panchayats of Aland in Kalaburagi district, which were inspected. The work was carried out using machines instead of human labour, and fake documents were found. In Kalur gram panchayat, a school compound wall was constructed but it was shown as construction of a toilet, he said.

There are many examples of money being taken by creating fake documents, he said. The same work was split and shown as separate works to claim money. In many cases, work existed only on paper, with no implementation on the ground, and money was looted. He said records related to these would be given to the media.

In some villages, the names of members of the same family were shown multiple times. Desilting of lakes was taken up, but the silt was left on the banks, which would flow back into the lake during rains. Money was again claimed by showing that the same lake was desilted once more, he alleged. There were lakhs of such irregularities in MGNREGA, he added.

During the UPA government from 2006-07 to 2013-14, Rs 8,739.32 crore was released to Karnataka. Under the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rs 48,549.82 crore has been released, he said, adding that this was Karnataka’s share.

Across the country, the UPA government released Rs 2.13 lakh crore, while under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Rs 8.48 lakh crore has been released. This funding is several times higher, he said. Corruption was rampant earlier. After extensive deliberations, reforms were undertaken, he added.

He recalled that Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had himself questioned in 2012 whether MGNREGA involved only digging and refilling mud.

In February 2011, then Prime Minister late Manmohan Singh had stated that corruption was happening in MGNREGA. Even Sonia Gandhi had said that fake job cards were being created, he noted. Taking all this into account, Chouhan said, the NDA government realised the need for an alternative scheme and wanted to eliminate deficiencies and corruption. Hence, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the NDA government implemented the Viksit Bharat Grameen Rozgar Mission, he said, alleging that Congress is spreading lies about it.

While MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of employment, under the Viksit Bharat Grameen Rozgar Mission, 125 days of employment is guaranteed, he said. There were instances during the Congress period where wages were not paid at all and payments were delayed. The present government has ensured timely wage payments, he said.

For a developed India, developed villages are necessary. The government does not want people to earn money by merely shifting mud from one place to another, as in MGNREGA, he said. Using PM Gati Shakti and technology, gram panchayats will prepare development plans. The powers of gram panchayats have been enhanced, and the plan for a developed gram panchayat will be prepared in the gram sabha, he said.

He alleged that the Congress party has forgotten its thoughts, ideology and principles. Congress has no connection with the country’s development anymore, and development has come to a standstill in Karnataka, he said. Though it claims Mahatma Gandhi as its ideal, the party has committed the sin of killing Bapu’s principles, he alleged.

While Mahatma Gandhi spoke of truth and non-violence, Congress has embraced lies, he criticised.

BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, BJP former national general secretary and MLC C.T. Ravi, and JD(S) legislature party leader Suresh Babu were present at the press conference.

--IANS

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