Mangalore: Siddaramaiah Launches Tirade at BJP, says Change in Govt Inevitable

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, Jul 7: "Change in state administration is inevitable. The BJP which has made a mockery of political values and democracy has no right to continue in power. When Congress comes to power in the future, the first step we will take is to order probes into the allegations of corruption against all BJP leaders, and prove that nobody is above the law," said state opposition leader Siddaramaiah.

He was addressing the 'Jana Jagruti' convention organized by the district Congress at Town Hall here on Saturday July 7 to oppose the 'anti-people' administration of BJP.

Siddaramaiah further said that BJP came to power in the state accidentally, and not with the blessings of the people. "In the last elections, BJP won 110 seats, Congress bagged 80 seats, JD(S) 28 and Independents six. Even we had the opportunity to form the government, but the Congress high command clearly instructed us not to form such coalition government, even though all six Independents were ready to support Congress," he said.

"However, the BJP lured the Independents and formed the government. From day one, they have been involved in corruption activities. The Reddy brothers (Janardhana, Karunakar and Somashekar Reddy) indulged in illegal mining and once the BJP came to power, Yeddyurappa became a toy in their hands," he lashed out.

Continuing his barrage against former CM Yeddyurappa he said, "Yeddyurappa's very behaviour is corrupt. Thereafter, whoever became minister also indulged in corruption, such that not even one of them is clean. "

"Yeddyurappa purchased MLAs through horse trading, but it was called 'Operation Kamala' to hide the party's misdeeds and the corruption involved in bringing MLAs to the party," he said, adding, "With such behaviour, BJP has introduced a very bad culture in politics. Each MLA was paid Rs 25 crore to join BJP, and all this only because Yeddyurappa wanted to be in power."

Siddaramaiah did not stop at that. "Yeddyurappa later indulged in nepotism and illegal denotification of land. He did not spare even Anganwadis, where the food was found to be of low quality. It was only after the issue was raised in the assembly that the government improved the quality of Anganwadi food," he said.

On the long-pending appointment of Lokayukta in the state he said, "Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde's report on illegal mining had termed the situation in Bellary as 'collapse of state administration'. The government is deliberately delaying the appointment of Lokayukta because otherwise more of their ministers will be caught," he said, insisting that even chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda has dirtied his hands in corruption.

Siddaramaiah next turned his guns on Sadananda Gowda's administration and said that the state government came up with the Rs one lac crore budget this year only after looting mines and natural resources in the state. "Despite the Rs one lac crore budget, many of the power, irrigation and drinking water projects have not been implemented. The government has thus betrayed farmers," he said, adding, "Hence, through Jana Jagruti convention Congress aims to enlighten the people about BJP's corrupt administration."

Urging people to vote for Congress in the next election, he said, "During Yeddyurappa's stint as CM, as many 13 ministers were charged of corruption and had to quit their posts. In the next election, voters should not only defeat BJP's candidates but also ensure that they lose their deposits."

He also referred to the 'porngate' issue wherein three ministers were caught watching porn in the state assembly earlier this year, and said that the ministers had tarnished the image and sancity of the state assembly.

"With so much corruption in the state, the development in the state has taken a backseat and has gone back by 10 years. There is a loan of Rs 1,20,000 crore on the state, and the budget of Rs one lac crore is just an eyewash. The reality is that out of the Rs one lac crore, the state government's share is only Rs 51,000 crore, and of the rest, Rs 26,500 crore is from the central government and an additional Rs 26,000 crore is loan," he said.

"Despite such a budget, nothing mentioned in the BJP manifesto has been done yet. They promised 10,000 MW of electricity production, but even after four years, not a single megawatt of power has been produced. Promise of providing free electricity to farmers remains a mirage," Siddaramaiah added.

"Earlier when Congress was in power, we provided rice to the poor at Rs 3 per kg, but BJP stopped it and they also cancelled 30 lac BPL cards, as a result of which, many who used to get free treatment in hospitals and rice are unable to get them now. They have also put widows and differently-abled persons in doldrums by not giving their pensions. This is nothing but inhuman.

On drought situation in the state, he said the state did not spend any amount from its treasury, and that it also failed to use the Rs 180-crore central relief fund.

He also said that while the BJP speaks of saving cows, it has failed to provide fodder to the cattle.

"No matter who becomes CM, this situation cannot be changed. Bringing Congress to power is the only solution," he thus concluded.

Opposition leader of the state legislative council S R Patil said that when the state was reeling from severe drought, the BJP government was busy fighting for the CM's chair. "Meeting of district incharge ministers was not convened. The BJP did not address the problems of farmers," he said.

"The Congress has an illustrious history. The next election may be held in November or December this year. All Congress party wokers should start preparing for it right now," he urged.

Congress should not treat party workers as trash - Janardhan Poojary

Miffed and upset at not being invited to the Congress convention, Janardhan Poojary, who attended the programme nevertheless, lashed out at his own party and said that the party should treat its people with respect.

Sources said that four days ago when the convention was planned and party workers had asked MLA Ramanath Rai why Poojary was not invited, he had reportedly said that once something is 'spit out', it cannot be taken back.

"No party worker should be treated as trash. Even though I was not invited, I chose to come, as I love the Congress party workers. If they are neglected, Congress will surely lose, as they are backbone of the party. No one should be thrown out like litter," he lambasted.

He also said that people from the minority community should be given consideration and importance in the party. At this Congressman B H Khader who was on the dais interrupted Poojary and said that in the recent MLC election Congress candidate from the minority community Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi lost because of cross-voting by some of the Congress leaders, and asked Poojary what he had to say on this.

Poojary in his reply chose to pacify Khader and said that such mistakes happen at times, but ultimately the party workers should be treated with respect.

Continuing his address, Poojary said after Jagadish Shettar becomes the CM, internal conflicts in BJP will erupt during cabinet expansion.

At the end, Poojary apologized, without clearly mentioning the reason for the apology.

V R Sudarshan, former speaker of the legislative council said that Karnataka is facing a tough time. "Promises made by the BJP four years ago have not been fulfilled. Hence, the people have all the rights to ask for change in the government. Any party that comes to power should work for the welfare of all sections of society, and not favour any particular segment," he said.

MLAs Ramanath Rai, U T Khader, Abhayachandra Jain, mayor Gulzar Banu, Congress leaders Vinaykumar Sorake, P V Mohan, Shashidhar Hegde, T K Sudhir, Ivan D'Souza, Kodijal Ibrahim, Praveenchandra Alva, Mithun Rai, Arun Coelho, and others were present.