Rs 500 crore condom scam allegation a blatant lie: U T Khader

Mangaluru, Sep 29: U T Khader, minister for food and civil supplies, on Thursday dismissed as a blatant lie the allegation by a Bharatiya Janata Party leader that the former was part of a Rs 500 crore condom scam.

"It is a blatant and shameless lie," the Congress leader told reporters when his reaction was sought to BJP leader and former corporator NR Ramesh's fresh allegations.

Allegations by Ramesh

Mr Ramesh, who had earlier accused Mr Khader of involving in a Rs 14,000 core drug purchase scam, on Monday claimed that Karnataka health ministry had misused funds meant for condom distribution. According to him the scam took place when Mr Khader was the health and family welfare minister.

“The chief minister and the health minister are president and vice president of this society respectively. Most of the scam happened when Mr Khader was the health minister,” said Mr Ramesh.

He alleged that the Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society (KSAPS), which is under the state health ministry, had promoted condoms of a private company as a part of its Condom Social Marketing Programme. The society distributed these condoms from private company to women in flesh trade, he claimed.

Ready to face probe

Mr Khader said that neither he nor chief minister Siddaramaiah involved in any such scam. “This is not the first time Ramesh is making such baseless allegations against me. Even senior BJP leaders know the fact that he is a liar,” he said.

The minister said that it was the responsibility of the union government to purchase condoms through National Aids Control Organisation (NACO). Hence, one needs not to fear about misuse of funds by the State government.

Mr Khader also said he was ready for any kind of probe. “We never shy away from any enquiry. Let the probe happen. I say this confidently because I never indulge in such activities,” he said.