Bengaluru: With allegations of recruitment irregularities under investigation and candidates staging protests, Union minister HD Kumaraswamy demanded that all ongoing Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) examinations be put on hold until the commission is reformed. He specifically sought postponement of the Nov 15 examination for recruitment to 319 gazetted probationer posts.The JD(S) state president said investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and a special investigation team (SIT) into alleged examination and recruitment irregularities over the past three to four years had raised serious questions about the commission’s credibility.“Given the ongoing investigations and allegations of financial transactions, I have no confidence that the KPSC can conduct examinations and make transparent and fair appointments. Several job aspirants have also raised similar concerns,” he said.Kumaraswamy pointed out that a committee headed by former minister RV Deshpande, appointed to recommend reforms in the KPSC, was yet to submit its report. With candidates protesting at Freedom Park, conducting examinations amid such uncertainty would be unfair to deserving aspirants, he said.“Only after the KPSC is completely cleaned up and transparency is ensured should recruitment examinations be conducted,” he demanded.Targets govt over farmers’ distressTurning to farmers’ distress, Kumaraswamy accused the state govt of failing to release its share of crop insurance payments, leaving farmers who had paid their premiums at the mercy of insurance companies.“The govt has become completely inactive on this issue. Making announcements alone cannot solve the problems faced by farmers,” he said.He also alleged that CM DK Shivakumar’s announcement of an additional Rs 2,500 in farmer relief was intended to divert attention from protests against the recent bus fare hike.Questioning the state’s finances, Kumaraswamy said contractors were awaiting nearly Rs 39,000 crore in pending payments even as the cabinet had cleared road projects worth Rs 26,000 crore. Calling the situation “ridiculous”, he alleged that a package-based contracting system was sidelining local contractors in favour of firms from Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.He also accused Congress functionaries of taking credit for medical institutions in Bengaluru South district, claiming that key decisions and funding for the projects had been initiated during his tenure as CM and under the JD(S)-Congress coalition govt.Meanwhile, more than 20 Congress functionaries from Kunigal joined the JD(S) in Kumaraswamy’s presence on Saturday.
