From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 21: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continued his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that the country's debt burden since 2014 rose by Rs 118 lakh crore from Rs 53 lac crore in 2014 to Rs 170 lakh crore.
The Modi regime has written off Rs 12 lac crore of loans for rich corporates while refusing to help the farmers in distress by granting a farm loan waiver.
During his reply to the debate on the budget proposals for the year 2023-24 in the legislative council on Friday, Siddaramaiah directly addressed the Prime Minister, saying, "Mr Modi, what about the poor and middle classes who are suffering due to price rise and inflation?"
He lashed out at the opposition BJP for claiming that the Congress government's guarantees would lead the State to financial bankruptcy, while their own Prime Minister had no problem writing off Rs 12 lakh crore of loans from wealthy corporates.
The chief minister, who had previously criticized the Modi regime for its neglectful treatment of the State in the devolution of funds, despite bragging about the benefits of double-engine governments in Karnataka and Delhi under BJP rule, had continuously increased the prices of petrol and diesel even when the international prices of crude oil were decreasing. Additionally, GST was levied on milk, curds, butter milk, and even puffed rice.
"What should the poor and middle-class people do when the prices of essential commodities, petrol, and diesel are increasing?" he asked.
Siddaramaiah said the ruling BJP believes in caste, communal, and religious polarization to win elections. "Manipur is burning, and people are struggling. BJP will not spare even Karnataka," he said, describing his budget as being guided by the principles of Basavanna and walking the talk in implementing the promises.
The Congress government has made a historic decision to implement guarantees aimed at putting money in the pockets of the poor and empowering women. Siddaramaiah expressed that people are satisfied with the guarantees, and the government has taken steps to mobilize Rs 34,500 crore required for their implementation.
The chief minister explained that the government has set a target of mobilizing Rs 13,500 crore through additional taxes, an additional loan of Rs 8,068 crore, reorganizing capital expenses to yield Rs 6,086 crore, and another Rs 7,000 crore for reprioritizing State capital funds. The Rs 34,654 crore of additional resources will be mobilized for implementing the guarantees.
Siddaramaiah described the Congress guarantees akin to the Universal Basic Income policies followed by developed countries. He stressed the need for equitable distribution of resources to ensure that all sections of the people, especially the poor, middle class, and deprived sections, are not left out.
He said the State's annual budget size has been increased to Rs 3,26,747 crore, and the financial deficit has gone up to 22%, with the debt burden being 22% of the GSDP. The government has adhered to the financial prudence norms despite a revenue deficit of Rs 15,523 crore. Every effort will be made to reduce the deficit and present a revenue surplus budget next year, he said.
The chief minister mentioned that the government has taken care to ensure that priority sectors like education, power, irrigation, and agriculture receive sufficient allocations, besides focusing on developing infrastructure projects in Bengaluru and other cities.
Bitcoin scam, PSI recruitment scam, as well as irregularities in medical purchases during the Covid pandemic period under the previous BJP government, are being probed, and the investigation has already commenced. He declared that the guilty will not be spared.