Mysuru, 30 September

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday accused former chief minister BS Yediyurappa of being responsible for the Karnataka government's delay in clearing pending dues of Rs 38,000 crore to State contractors.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Kollegal town to inaugurate slew of development works initiated in Chamarajanagar district, Shivakumar said that even though the then BJP-led State government has no money in its exchequer, Yediyurappa announced a slew of schemes and development works, leading to the delay.

Shivakumar alleged that the Finance Department had raised objections to the works carried out during the BJP government.

On State Contractors Association President R Manjunath allegations that the commissions had increased under the Congress, Shivakumar said that he will verify such claims if the body gives a complaint in writing with details of the officers, and individuals demanding commissions for awarding contracts.

Manjunath on Wednesday, however, threatened to launch protests if the government doesn’t clear the pending dues by November.

“"Eight departments involve our work, from all these departments we have dues of Rs 38,000 crore, which may be a couple of thousand crores more. The Chief Minister himself has said Rs 40,000 crore,” Manjunath told reporters in Bengaluru, saying that repeated meetings with the officials have yielded no results.

"There are certain things that need to be done by the Finance Department for us. If the CM doesn't call us, discuss our issues, resolve them, and doesn't make our payments, we are ready to come out openly and reveal things. We will do it," he said.