From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 8: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Friday and sought additional Central governments for the National Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (NABARD) in the state.
The Chief Minister also thanked the Union Minister for appointing him as the Chairman of the ministerial panel on GST and discussed with Sitharaman on the role and functioning of the ministerial panel.
He said the first meeting of the ministerial panel on GST will be convened soon.
Bommai said that he had urged the Union Finance Minister to enable the State to spend on infrastructure development, agriculture and rural development under the NABARD and SIDBI projects.
The Chief Minister said Karnataka has already received Rs 12,000 crore as GST compensation. The compensation amount of Rs 11,800 crore payable till March 2021 is being released by the Centre in instalments, he said pointing out that Karnataka will be getting Rs 18,000 crore as GST compensation this year.
He expressed the hope that the State will receive higher GST compensation in view of the better collection.
The Chief Minister also called on the Union Health and Chemicals Minister Mansukh Mandaviya along with Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar and discussed various issues pertaining to the upgradation of health infrastructure and also sought increase the fertiliser allotment to the State.
He said Karnataka is facing a shortage of 32,000 tonnes of DAP and 10,000 tonnes of MOP fertilisers and disclosed that the Centre has agreed to release the quantity within a week.
The Chief Minister said the Union Health Minister will be visiting Bengaluru on Monday to participate in the NIMHANS convocation and will be reviewing the State’s health services during his visit.
BJP has become all encompassing
Later, participating in the India Today Conclave, the Chief Minister said BJP has becoming all-encompassing party as different sections of society and community have joined it.
He also lavishly praised his predecessor B S Yediyurappa for his contribution in building the party and also paving the way for younger generation to assume leadership roles in the party.
The Chief Minister said the party will be fighting the 2023 assembly elections in the State under his leadership and expressed confidence that BJP will return to power with absolute majority.
Bommai felt Tamil Nadu government’s objection to the NEET examination was not correct and said it benefits the students.