I don't care about black mail, those who have worked will be paid systematically: DCM DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: “Contractors who have done the job properly will be billed. I also know who is behind which contractors. We are working according to the law and this DK Shivakumar is not afraid of all such black mails," said DCM DK Shivakumar.

On Tuesday, DK Shivakumar answered questions raised by the media near the Kumarakrupa Guest House about contractors writing letters to the Governor regarding non-payment of their bills.

The allegations from contractors were DK Sivakumar has asked money for the release of the bill amount, and they asked him to swear on his local diety Gangadhara Ajjaiah whom he believes.

DCM Shivakumar said, “I am not going to answer to any contractor. I have not spoken to anyone. I also have consciousness, I know politics. The contractor is known. It is also known who is behind them and who is saying this. Let them do whatever they want. We are working according to law. I will not stand for this kind of threat, blackmail. Give a letter to the Governor, give a letter to the President, meet the Prime Ministers and do whatever you want."

To the question of whether they are doing this to put pressure on you, He said, "What pressure do I have, who is pressuring me, who is scaring me, can they scare me?" I have the strength to withstand any pressure. "I am not going to respond to all the issues of these contractors," he said.

When asked why the contractor had met Kumaraswamy, he replied, "If we were in the opposition party, wouldn't they have met us too? Can we say this is wrong? This is a very common thing. Politicians and opposition parties are there to do such a thing, let them do it."

To the question that some contractors have formed a group and are making repeated statements against the government, he said, "I don't have to swear to anyone let them do anything. Whatever the law says, the answer is the same. If they work, we will pay the bill, if they don't work, we won't pay the bill. If today the work is applied, tomorrow the tender is done, can anyone complete the work of Rs 1,000 crore within a month. We have told the officials, evaluate and bill it if the work is done. They will take care of the work. The government is there to formulate policy. So we will not interfere in the bill issue," he said.

To the question that you have alleged 40 percent in the past, what do you say about it, "Yes, we have made an allegation, it is true, we have given a letter for investigation, we are investigating, Ashwath Narayan said to investigate, when Bommai was the Chief Minister, he had said that we will investigate, the Lokayukta has given report that Rs 130 crores has been paid without a bill. The suspension of the officials are all true," he said.

To the question that the contractors had accused the BJP then and now they are accusing you, he said, "The contractors had also come to me and I told them that if you do the work, you will get money. There is a process for giving the bill. Didn't they wait for two or three years? The water resources department has Rs 600 crore but there is a bill of Rs 25,000 crore. Where will it be paid from? Will it be possible to pay all those who do not work?" He retorted.

When asked about the meeting held today with the Bengaluru Ministers and MLAs, he said, "We have come to a conclusion after discussing the problems of MLA's constituencies and the discrimination done by the previous government. We have discussed about which works should be done on priority keeping in mind the financial situation," he said.