From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 18: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday questioned the moral right of union ministers H D Kumaraswamy and Prahlad Joshi to speak against the Congress government’s successful implementation of guarantees.
Speaking to media persons after garlanding the statue of Bhakta Kanakadasa in front of Legislators' Home in Bengaluru and offering floral tributes, he reiterated that the government would not cancel the BPL cards of the beneficiaries, and only those of ineligible persons would be withdrawn.
He assured that the poor and below poverty line families need not be concerned about the negative propaganda by the opposition parties regarding the cancellation of BPL cards.
The chief minister stated that it was the Congress government that launched the Anna Bhagya scheme in 2017. “We started the scheme to distribute rice free under the Anna Bhagya scheme,” he said, questioning whether the BJP had launched any similar schemes in the states it governed.
“Do Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, or Haryana have any schemes like Anna Bhagya?” he asked.
Responding to Kumaraswamy’s query on the use of taxpayers' funds, Siddaramaiah questioned whether the JD(S) leader or the BJP had introduced any schemes like the current guarantees when in power. “What moral right does he have to speak against the guarantees?” he asked.
The chief minister pointed out that Karnataka contributes Rs 4.5 lakh crore in taxes to the central exchequer but receives only about Rs 59,000 crore annually. “Why is the state denied its rightful share? Let them first ensure that Karnataka receives justice in the central devolution of funds,” he demanded.
He challenged JD(S) leaders Kumaraswamy and H D Deve Gowda to state whether they had ever fought against the injustices faced by Karnataka. “They must fight for the rights of Karnataka and its people,” he said.
Siddaramaiah highlighted that NABARD had allocated Rs 5,600 crore to the state last year, which has now been reduced to Rs 2,340 crore. “The Centre has slashed the loans to the state by 58%. Kumaraswamy and Prahlad Joshi, as Union Ministers from the state, must address this injustice and ensure Karnataka gets its rightful share,” he stated.
The chief minister mentioned that he had already written to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who represents the state in the Rajya Sabha, regarding the reduction in NABARD grants affecting Karnataka’s farmers.
The Congress government is providing interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh and loans of up to Rs 15 lakh at a nominal interest rate of 3%.
Siddaramaiah noted that the Centre had promised a grant of Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project in the 2023-24 budget and an additional Rs 11,595 crore as per the 15th Finance Commission. These grants have yet to be received. “The Union Ministers from the state remain silent,” he added.
“Our government is spending Rs 56,000 crore annually on guarantee programmes from its own funds. Why don’t other BJP-ruled states implement such pro-people welfare schemes?” he questioned.
Siddaramaiah emphasized that Kanakadasa was a universal personality, social reformer, and philosopher whose teachings remain relevant today.
The chief minister also participated in the 19th Ramanashri function and distributed awards at the All India Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Mysuru, organized by the Ramanashri Foundation. He later inaugurated the new offices of KEONICS and KITS.