Members of AHINDA Chintakara Vedike and Kalyana Karnataka 371(J) Agitation Committee for the implementation of the amendment stage a protest in Kalaburagi on Tuesday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Stating that there is widespread corruption in the functioning of the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), members of AHINDA Chintakara Vedike and the Kalyana Karnataka Constitution Amendment 371(J) Agitation Committee took out a bullfight in Kalaburagi on Tuesday in symbolic protest.
The protesters marched from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Chowk to the KKRDB office building, raising slogans against the state government and accusing it of turning a blind eye to irregularities in carrying out development works in the region.
As part of the protest, they garlanded the bull and went on a procession, symbolically highlighting what they called “blind consent” to corrupt practices.
Vedike president Saibanna Jamadar said that since 2023, bills amounting to nearly ₹5,300 crore have been approved for works approved under the grants allocated to the board. He said the invoices were billed without carrying out mandatory inspections, quality assessments or physical verification of completed work.
He added that payments have been released even in cases where the work either remains incomplete or has not been carried out on site.
Mr. Jamadar also said that no third-party review or quality audit was done before the bills were cleared, which is in gross violation of established norms and the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.
He demanded the immediate suspension of the officials responsible for clearing these payments and called for a high-level inquiry into the functioning of the KKRDB.
Protesters have warned that if immediate strict measures are not taken, the vedike will intensify their agitation in the coming days.
Published – 31 Dec 2025 18:49 IST
