Addressing a press conference in Bangalore, Siddaramaiah disputed the recent statistics released by the CM on receipts and expenditure and even challenged Yeddyurappa for a public debate on the fiscal scene in the State. However, Yeddyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, refused to accept the challenge stating that he would reply to Siddaramaiah’s charges on the floor of the House.
Siddaramaiah charged that the State would fall short by Rs 9,000 crore in revenue estimates for the financial year 2009-10 and will not be in a position to reach anywhere near the plan size of Rs 29,500 crore.
Stating that he was quoting figures furnished by the Finance Department, Siddaramaiah said the State government had spent only Rs 12,413 crore (of the total plan size of Rs 29,500 crore) till December end. The revenue collection stood at Rs 32,131 crore till December-end and the government faced the uphill task of mobilising Rs 16,260 crore in the next three months to meet the revenue estimates of Rs 48,390 crore.