From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Sandur (Ballari), Dec 8: Warmly thanking the voters of Sandur Assembly constituency for reposing faith in the Congress party, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that Sandur is and will always remain a Congress citadel and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not showing the courage to accept his challenge.

Addressing a massive public meeting in Sandur of Ballari district on Sunday, Siddaramaiah accused Modi for making his local BJP leaders to utter lies and falsehood. “I had challenged the prime minister to prove his charges that the ruling Congress party had collected bribe money for the Maharashtra elections and had publicly declared my willingness to retire from politics if the charges of corruption were proved. But Modi lacked the courage to accept the challenge,” he said.

The chief minister said he had strenuously campaigned for Congress candidate Annapoorna Thukaram in Sandur and had noted the developmental works undertaken by the Congress MP E Thukaram, which has endeared him to the voters. The Congress government in the State has delivered on its electoral promise and has been implementing programmes to strengthen the economic and purchasing power of the people.

“But has Modi delivered or implemented any of his promises in 2014 or 2019 elections. People are yet to taste the promised Achche Din. The Modi government has failed to create 2 crore jobs annually or double the income of farmers. He has failed to deposit Rs 15 lac in the bank accounts of the people,” Siddaramaiah said and pointed out that Modi has fooled the people with his empty and tall promises.

BJP leader and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy has turned Ballari district into his own Republic and was entrusted by the BJP to ensure the party’s victory in the Sandur Assembly by-election, he said.

Siddaramaiah said BJP had never come to power in the State on its own strength and had grabbed power through its infamous Operation Kamala, which was funded by black money.

The chief minister declared that he would never bow down to BJP and its Central agencies as long as he enjoyed the support and blessings of the people. “There is no question of being cowed down by false charges and propaganda,” he said.

Housing and Wakfs Minister Z A Zameer Ahmed Khan said the Housing Department will construct 2,000 additional houses in Sandur Assembly constituency. As many as 2,172 houses have already been built and distributed and extra 2000 houses will be constructed, he promised.

Rs 5 lac compensation to 5 women suffering maternal deaths

The chief minister announced the monetary compensation amount sanctioned to the families of the 5 women who suffered maternal deaths in Ballari government hospital will be enhanced to Rs 5 lac each.