Many VCs in state have paid bribe to get their posts: HDK

Bengaluru, Aug 20: JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Friday charged that vice chancellors of many universities had paid bribe for their appointments in the state.

“Many vice chancellors have made payments for their appointments. They would have borrowed money from somewhere to make the payment. And now, after the appointment, they are trying to recover the money. Hence, scams are cropping up in universities,” he told reporters.

He, however, did not divulge names of vice chancellors who he claimed paid bribe. To a question on who had taken the bribe, he sarcastically said, “Details of the payments might be available with Raj Bhavan.”

He took serious exception to Higher Education Minister Basavraj Rayareddi for terming some vice chancellors dacoits. “Being the Higher Education Minister, Rayareddi will have access to all information. Why isn't he taking action against those dacoits?” he asked. He also criticised Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar for lecturing on morals in public life and doing nothing to bring in the changes.

He criticised the government for delay in recommending the police officers for promotion to IPS cadre. About 40 IPS posts have been vacant in Karnataka since March this year. But the government has not recommended any name to the Centre for promotions.

“Maybe, the government is averse to promoting Kannada-speaking officers to IPS cadre. It wants only officers from north India to occupy IPS posts so that they can mercilessly beat up locals,” he said, and added that Kempaiah, the advisor to the home minister, would be the right person to explain why the government is dillydallying on recommending the names.

Help denied to SC student'

H?D?Kumaraswamy charged that Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya refused to help a meritorious scheduled caste student pay the admission fee for his medical course. Shivanand Sonemane had secured the 1,345th rank in the common entrance test and was given a seat at Bangalore Medical College. But he was unable to pay the fees. When the student approached Anjaneya recently seeking financial assistance, the minister did not oblige him, he said.

He also refused to accept the request letter that was written in Kannada. Instead, he asked him to submit the letter in English. “The government claims to be a champion of SC, ST and backward classes, but poor students belonging to these communities are not getting help,” the JD(S) leader charged and added that he will help the student if the government fails in its responsibility.