BJP smells laptop ‘scam’, House committee to probe

BELAGAVI: A House committee of the Legislative Council has been constituted to probe alleged irregularities in the purchase of laptops for college students. Council Chairman Shankaramurthy announced the probe after uproarious scenes were witnessed over the issue on Friday. He asked the panel to submit its report within 15 days.

The state government had in 2016 budget announced a `300-crore scheme to distribute free laptops to about 1.5 lakh SC/ST students in government or aided medical, engineering and first-grade colleges.
BJP member Raghunath Rao Malkapure raised the issue alleging huge financial irregularities in purchase of the laptops and alleged the government is paying exorbitant price for laptops that are inferior in quality.
Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi in his reply said that the allegations are baseless as the department has not yet called for any tenders this year and expressed his suspicions over the source of the media report. Malkapure replied that the allegations were made by Ajay Nagabhushan, Commissioner, Collegiate Education Department.

Malkapure also pointed to irregularities in laptop procurement in the previous year too and demanded that a house committee be formed to probe the allegations.Supporting him, JD(S) leader Ramesh Babu said he had brought the same to the notice of the department. “The project was of `50 crore and the laptops were not of good quality, but the department had already paid `38 crore and were about to pay the remaining. They stopped after I wrote a letter,” he said, alleging the department has also paid for laptops that were not supplied. He too demanded a constitution of the house committee. Amid the chaotic scenes, minister Rayaraddi agreed to formation of the house committee.

When Congress members questioned the move, the Chairman and opposition members stuck to the stance saying the minister has already agreed to formation of house committee. Shankaramurthy said panel members would be announced later.

Centre should relax rules on maize  Belagavi: The state has put the onus of opening maize procurement centres on the central government. Unless the latter agrees to relax the rules for procuring the produce for the public distribution system (PDS), the state cannot intervene in the market, it said. In the Assembly on Friday, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda said maize was not part of the PDS in southern states and hence the state cannot purchase it from farmers.

Decision soon on grant-in aid for schools, says Sait Belagavi: Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait on Friday said a decision will taken soon regarding grant-in aid for eligible schools which are established before 1995.Replying to a question by JD(S) leader K T Srikantegowda in the Council during Question Hour, Sait said that a decision will be taken in the next 15-20 days. He said that policies govern grant-in aid to schools.