BJP’s Gudur urges High Court:Take up suo motu inquiry on the comments of CM

Hyderabad, April 28: Bharatiya Janata Party state senior leader Gudur Narayana Reddy on Friday urged High Court of Telangana to take up suo motu inquiry on corruption in selection of beneficiaries of Dalit Bandhu Scheme so that it would not turn into ‘Corruption Bandhu’. 
In a media statement, he said that the Chief Minister himself has reportedly admitted that corruption has taken place in selection of the beneficiaries of the scheme. “The CM reportedly said that he had a list of the names of MLAs who have taken bribes to select the beneficiaries for the scheme in the BRS meeting on April 27,” he said. 
He said that the comments of the Chief Minister were widely published in the print media and telecasted in electronic media. The High Court should immediately step in and take up suo motu inquiry lest the scheme would turn into ‘Corruption Bandhu”. 
The BJP leader said that the HC should ask the Chief Minister to submit the list of the MLAs who have taken bribes to it and order inquiry on the issue by a competent law enforcement agency. 
“It is a matter of grave concern that the Chief Minister himself has reportedly stated that he has names of the MLAs who indulged in corruption. The CM said that even if the local leaders took the bribes, it would be considered that the MLAs were the recipients,” Narayana Reddy said. 
He said that there were rampant allegations against the MLAs of ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi that they have been taking bribes from the eligible persons for their selection under Dalith Bandhu Scheme. Now the comments of the Chief Minister have proven those allegations as true. 
He informed that Dalit Bandhu Scheme was announced in July, 2021 through which selected Dalit family would be provided Rs 10 lakhs financial assistance to get self employment. This was used to lure the Dalit votes in by poll of Huzurabad Assembly Constituency which was lost by the then ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi. 
Narayana Reddy informed that about Rs 17,700 crores have been allocated in the present financial year for the scheme. It has been proposed to extend the benefits of the scheme to 1.77 lakh Dalits of the state. 
According to reports in the media, the MLAs and their henchmen have been demanding Rs 3 lakhs from the eligible persons to clear their name to get the benefit from the scheme. 
“It means that nearly Rs 5,310 crores could go into the pockets of the MLAs and their henchmen if unchecked. This is nothing but a big loot of public money. Nearly 1,475 Dalit persons could be selected in each Assembly constituency. It means that each MLA could pocket about 44 crores,” Narayana Reddy said. 
He alleged that by giving the recommendation power to the MLAs the Chief Minister has opened the gates for large scale corruption in the scheme.