Union Minister Demands Resignation of Home Minister Over RDPR Recruitment Irregularities
Kumaraswamy said “Priyank Khage should tell the people of the State who received the kickbacks.
Bengaluru: Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday demanded the resignation of Minister of Home Priyank Kharge alleging the role of the Minister in irregularities in the recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineer of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. Priyank Kharge was the Minister of RDPR under Siddaramaiah and had his portfolio changed to the Home Ministry in the D.K. Shivakumar Cabinet.
At a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy said “It is true that Priyank Kharge was involved in the irregularities in the recruitment of AEEs and irregularities have been established. Even after irregularities were established, Priyank Kharge rushed through their appointments.” Adding, Kumaraswamy said, “forensic examination established that the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets had been tampered with.”
“When the sub-committee examined the matter of OMR sheets and other records, the sub-committee issued notices to all 24 candidates. 20 candidates served notices appeared before the sub-committee while 4 did not,” Kumaraswamy said.
The OMR sheets and other materials were subsequently subjected for forensic lab analysis and the examination at FSL established irregularities had occurred,” the Union Minister said and pointed to the High Court that said the matter should be handed over to the CBI investigation. “I say the same thing. The investigation must be entrusted to the CBI,” stated Kumaraswamy and wanted to know “the manner in which the provisional list was finalised.”
Kumaraswamy said “Priyank Khage should tell the people of the State who received the kickbacks. The 24 candidates have been working for a year even though their OMR sheets have been tampered with and a report established irregularities in the recruitment of AEEs.”
