BJP leader CT Ravi has hit back at the Karnataka Congress government over its claim that the pending contractors’ bills date back to the BJP’s tenure. He asserted that it is the responsibility of any government in power to clear sanctioned payments, regardless of which administration approved them.
“Pending bills are always there. Once a government is out of power, the bills still remain, and they need to be paid by the current government. The government gives the commitment, sanction is done by the government… Once the work is done, it is the government’s job to pay the pending bills,” Ravi said.
His statement comes amid rising tensions between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP over financial issues in Karnataka. The Congress government has been accused of delaying payments to contractors, leading to protests and economic distress in the sector. However, Congress leaders have defended themselves by arguing that many of these bills originate from projects sanctioned under the previous BJP-led administration.
Countering this argument, Ravi emphasized that government revenues continue to flow regardless of which party is in power, and the responsibility of governance includes honoring financial commitments.
“Government gets the revenue collection,” he pointed out, implying that there is no justification for withholding payments.
With contractors reportedly struggling due to delayed payments, the issue has become a major political flashpoint. The opposition BJP is now ramping up pressure on the Congress government, demanding immediate action to resolve the crisis.
