'Why is Karnataka-govt wasting money on iPhones?' questions BJP MP
What's the story
Questioning Karnataka Government's move to distribute iPhones to 40 MPs from the state, a BJP MP has returned the costly gadget and said the state shouldn't waste public money when farmers and civic workers are in distress.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who was in Delhi, said that he was not aware of it.
Kumaraswamy further said he would collect the details from his office.
Karnataka govt
Karnataka govt distributed iPhones, leather bags, folders to 40 MPs
Recently, the Karnataka government had given an iPhone, one leather bag, and a folder along with the invitation requesting the state MPs to attend a meeting scheduled on July 18 at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.
The issues to be discussed at the meeting include Cauvery river water sharing with Tamil Nadu and pending projects with the central government.
Conscience voice
My conscience won't permit to accept this phone: Rajiv Chandrashekar
BJP MP from Karnataka, Rajiv Chandrashekar, accepted the invitation but returned the "costly iPhone".
"My conscience will not permit to accept this phone and hence I am returning it," he said in a letter to the CM.
He said that the CM was talking about cutting down unnecessary expenditure and the government was not able to pay even the salary of civic workers.
Quote
One civic worker committed suicide, says BJP MP
"One civic worker committed suicide and farmers in the state are also facing huge debt. In this situation, the public money should not be spent unnecessarily," Chandrashekar said, adding the CM Kumaraswamy should use this money to pay civic workers' salary.