Reiterating his allegation of the Congress government being a “60% commission government”, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday said that contractors who are members of the Congress are claiming that corruption has increased under the State government.

“The allegation of corruption has been made by your party leader in Tumakuru and by contractors who support the Congress. They have lamented that the BJP government was better. Your party sympathising contractors have alleged that 40% commission is being extracted in Congress rule too,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said on social media platform X, in response to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who asked for proof. “Where does the question arise to make baseless allegations on 60% commission?”

The Union Minister said that if there was no “commission business”, those Congress leaders and contractors could have been asked why they were making such allegations.

“Why did you not ask them? You are asking for documents for every allegation. However, when you released reams of advertisements on 40% commission against the BJP government, how much documents did you give? Have you ever in your political life made allegations based on documents?”

Pointing to a Davangere-based contractor who has written to the Chief Minister and the Governor seeking a mercy death over the non-payment of bills, Mr. Kumaraswamy asked: “Will you get him the dues or allow him mercy death? Leave the greed of money and help him.”