Allegations Rock Karnataka Government: Bribery in Housing Allotments Uncovered

Senior Congress legislator B R Patil stirred controversy over the weekend by alleging bribery in the allocation of public housing in Karnataka. His claims were made in a phone conversation circulating widely, implicating officials in accepting payments in exchange for housing allotments.

Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar quickly responded, dismissing Patil's remarks as unacceptable and emphasizing a transparent allocation process. The remarks have placed the state government in a difficult position, as they contradict efforts to present a corruption-free administration.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP seized the opportunity to criticize the Congress government, demanding clarity from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi referred to previous corruption allegations within the government, intensifying pressure on the ruling party to respond decisively.

(With inputs from agencies.)