BENGALURU ∙ The contractor’s letter to the President and the Prime Minister asked the President and the Prime Minister to give permission for euthanasia as the officials demanded 40% commission to pass 61 lakh rupees for the supply of medical equipment in Karnataka. The new controversy has come as the next blow to the BJP government right after the allegations that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bomme tried to sideline journalists by paying them.
The letter was written by Basavaraj Amargol, a resident of Hubballi, who distributed medical equipment worth Rs 84 lakh during the Covid-19 pandemic. The letter states that only Rs 23 lakh was passed and when the offices went to the offices for the remaining amount, the panchayat authorities asked for 40% commission. The contractors’ association had earlier written to the Prime Minister complaining that the contracts of various departments can be obtained only if 40% commission is given to the ministers and public representatives.
The contractor had committed suicide in April after allegedly asking the Eshwarappa Commission, the former rural development minister. Then Eshwarappa resigned but the controversy was not contained. The government is currently in the midst of allegations that the Chief Minister ‘gifted’ journalists Rs 1 lakh to 2.5 lakh along with Madurai for Diwali. Some journalists themselves revealed this. However, Bomme responded that the allegation is false and Congress is behind it.
English Summary: Contractor writes to PM Modi seeking permission to end life