From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Hassan, Jun 27: With the BJP threatening to launch an agitation against the Congress government if its guarantees were delayed, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has hit back by promising to order probes into major scandals during the previous BJP rule over the last four years.

Speaking to media persons in Hassan on Tuesday, he stated that the government would definitely investigate the major scandals that occurred during the BJP rule, including the 40% commission in government contracts, recruitment of police sub-inspectors (PSIs), Bit Coin, irregularities in the construction of four medical colleges and irrigation projects, as well as the medical purchases during the Covid pandemic.

The deaths of patients in Chamarajangar government hospital due to a shortage of oxygen will be reinvestigated, he said, pointing out that the then Health Minister Dr Sudhakar had claimed that only two people had died, while in reality, more people had lost their lives.

Siddaramaiah said that if the BJP is genuinely interested in the implementation of the Congress government's guarantees, which were the main reason for the party's defeat, they should agitate and stage protests against the BJP-ruled Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This comes after the Food Corporation of India (FCI) refused to sell rice to Karnataka despite giving a written assurance to supply it on the directions of the Modi regime.

"Let the BJP leaders use all their force and protest against their own BJP regime in Delhi and force it to sell the rice to the state. It will show their real concern for the poor and the people," he said.

The Chief Minister added that the government would implement all five guarantees, even without BJP's protests because "we walk the talk and deliver on our promises, unlike the BJP." The government has already implemented Shakti, which provides free travel to women on all government buses. This initiative has become hugely popular among women, enabling them to visit pilgrimage centers on their own.

After Shakti, the government will launch Gruhajyoti, providing 200 units of free power to all domestic consumers from July 1, and Gruhalaksmi, providing Rs 2,000 per month to each head of the woman in the family from August 15. The process of inviting applications for Gruhalaksmi has already commenced. The Yuva Nidhi, which provides Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 per month to unemployed diploma holders for 24 months if they have not secured jobs for six months, is for those who passed during the current year.

Anna Bhagya: Rice distribution issue

The Anna Bhagya guarantee has hit a roadblock from the BJP and the Modi government. "We had promised 10 kg of rice per person per month for all BPL families, for which the government requires 2.29 lakh tonnes of rice. The Central FCI had promised to give the rice but backed out under directions from the Centre, even though there is sufficient stock. I have taken up the issue with Home Minister Amit Shah, and our Food Minister K H Muniyappa has already met Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal," he said, challenging former chief ministers B S Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, and R Ashok to prevail upon Modi to honor the written promise made by FCI.

"We are not asking for the rice for free and have agreed to the prescribed rates plus transportation costs," he said, asking BJP leaders whether the Congress should have consulted them first before making the guarantees.

Siddaramaiah said the government is trying to procure rice from Nafed, Kendriya Bhandar, and NCCF. The government had made its best efforts to secure the necessary rice from other states. The State Cabinet will make a decision on the issue.

"We are unable to get the necessary rice. As soon as we are able to procure the rice, we will launch Anna Bhagya, which was first started by the Congress, the moment we are able to get the necessary rice," he said, challenging the BJP leaders to ensure that the Centre sells the rice.

He also mentioned that the BJP has no moral right to agitate or fight on the streets demanding Anna Bhagya because they are anti-poor. People are watching and know what the BJP is up to. The BJP has no moral right to demand the implementation of Anna Bhagya, he said.

"Our government will implement its five guarantees. The 2.5 lakh vacancies in the government will be filled in phases, as all cannot be recruited at once," he said, indicating that the five guarantees will cost Rs 59,000 crore per year.

Kempegowda: A pro-people visionary leader

The chief minister inaugurated the State-level Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations in Hassan in the presence of Adichunchanagiri Swamiji Sri Nirmalananda and described the founder of Bengaluru as a visionary and pro-people leader who was completely secular.

Siddaramaiah stated that the Congress government, headed by him, had first decided to celebrate Kempegowda Jayanti by the government and had also decided to install a statue of Kempegowda.

Minister K N Rajanna, Shakha Math Sri Shambhunath Swami, MLAs K M Shivalingegowda, C N Balakrishna, Swaroop Pakash, H K Suresh, H D Revanna, and others were present, along with Kannada and Culture Department Secretary Manjula.

Earlier in Bengaluru, he paid homage to Kempegowda by garlanding his statue and participated in an official program.