From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 22: In a sharp rejoinder to Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje for her comments on whether the Congress leaders were "brainless" in coming out with the Anna Bhagaya Guarantee, assuring 10 kg of rice per head per month to the poor, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar retorted, "Was Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'brainless' before making the promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of each person, creating 2 crore jobs annually, and doubling the income of farmers?"

"Let Shobhakka stop worrying about Congress guarantees. We are going to implement and keep our promise," he said, challenging the BJP leaders to first fulfill their promises.

Speaking to media persons near his residence, Shivakumar said, "We can't stop opposition parties from criticizing. It is their right. We will do our work."

However, he reminded Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje that the Congress government is "not asking for charity" or supplying rice from the stock with the Food Corporation of India for free.

"The government is ready to pay the charges fixed by FCI. But now that FCI has backed down from its promise to supply 2.8 lakh tonnes of rice on the very next day, on the directions of the Modi regime, we are making alternative arrangements and sourcing the rice for the Anna Bhagya scheme from other states."

He said Shobha Karandlaje and other BJP leaders must first remember their party's unkept promises.

"The Congress party is different from the BJP. We walk the talk and deliver on our promises. BJP ruled the state for 4 years but has not fulfilled even a single promise it made to the people. The BJP had promised to waive farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh. Did they do it? We are implementing our promises because we have concern for the poor," he declared.

Asked what will happen if the Centre fails to cooperate, Shivakumar said the Chief Minister, the Food Minister, and officials are in talks with other states.

"There might be a slight delay. But we will keep our promise. The FCI had agreed and on the next day backed out. It is the BJP which is anti-poor," he said, accusing the BJP of trying to defeat the Anna Bhagya scheme.

Asked about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Food Minister K H Muniyappa holding talks with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, he said he would not like to comment on that as they will provide details.

In response to a question about Prime Minister Modi holding a press conference in the US for the first time in his 9-year-long tenure, the Deputy Chief Minister retorted, "You people (press) should be happy that at least he (Prime Minister) has addressed a press conference on foreign soil. You must be happy that he has chosen to speak to foreign media if not the Indian media."

Earlier in the morning, a delegation of guest lecturers called on the Deputy Chief Minister to consider them in the recruitment of lecturers. He promised to take up the matter and respond positively.