Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 19: The Karnataka BJP on Wednesday, February 19 accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of pushing the state into a financial crisis, alleging that it is struggling to pay salaries and clear dues. State BJP president B Y Vijayendra demanded that the chief minister release a white paper on the state’s financial situation to ensure transparency.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters, Vijayendra questioned whether the state’s consolidated funds were being utilized responsibly or misused. He criticized the government for imposing steep hikes in various fees and charges to fund its guarantee schemes. According to him, property registration fees were increased by 600%, guidance value by 30%, vehicle registration fees by 10%, hospital service charges by 5%, electricity rates by 14.5%, water tariffs by 30%, and milk prices by 15%.
Vijayendra expressed concern over the state’s deteriorating financial health, claiming that the government is finding it difficult to pay employee salaries and settle electricity dues. He also highlighted the delay in implementing the Yuva Nidhi scheme, which promised Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to diploma holders for two years.
The BJP leader alleged that funds allocated for Scheduled Castes and Tribes are being diverted to finance the guarantee schemes. He further accused the government of failing to address basic infrastructure issues, such as fixing potholes in Bengaluru, while making grandiose claims about constructing underground tunnels.
Vijayendra also criticized the timing of fund releases for guarantee schemes, suggesting that they were strategically timed around elections. “Funds are released during Lok Sabha elections, by-elections, and now possibly during district and taluk panchayat elections,” he said.
He compared Karnataka’s metro fare hikes to other major cities like Chennai, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi, where fares have remained unchanged. Additionally, he claimed that payments under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which provides Rs 2,000 monthly to women heads of BPL families, have been delayed by five to six months, and the promised 5 kg of free rice is not being distributed.
The BJP leader labeled chief minister Siddaramaiah as a “master of lies” and urged the government to come clean on the state’s financial condition.