CM tried to influence KPSC recruitment process, alleges JDS

Bangalore, Aug 11: Senior JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy today alleged that the Chief Minister had tried to influence the Karnataka Public Service Commission recruitment process, a charge dismissed by Siddaramaiah who called him a "big liar."

"In this issue, Chief Minister himself (is) involved by misusing his office. He called (telephoned) one (KPSC) member 72 times to select some candidates. When KPSC committee did not oblige him, he decided to quash the list," Kumaraswamy said, demanding Siddaramaiah's immediate resignation.

The state cabinet on August 7 had scrapped the 2011 provisional list of gazetted probationary officers for group A and B services and ordered re-examination, after a Criminal Investigation Department reported largescale malpractices.

Kumaraswamy said Siddaramaiah "is the main culprit" in the issue and he should vacate office."He is totally unfit to continue as Chief Minister even for a minute," he said.

Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, said government's contention that the list had been rejected based on CID report was just an "eye-wash" as it had anyway decided to scrap the list several months ago. The CID report does not mention the 72 telephone calls Siddaramaiah made to a KPSC member to influence selection process, he said.

He said the Advocate General had advised the government to order a comprehensive inquiry into the entire process of selection including the conduct of written examination and viva-voce through an agency like the CBI.

Reacting angrily, Siddaramaiah brushed aside Kumaraswamy's allegations and said scrapping the KPSC list was a cabinet decision.

"...He (Kumaraswamy) is a big liar..Who is Kumaraswamy to ask for my resignation..," Siddaramaiah said.

He said both the father (former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda) and his son Kumaraswamy should speak in a manner that "befits their status."

"Kumaraswamy has been saying that he is fighting corruption, but is siding with protesters - against the government's decision to reject the list after finding irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process," he said.