Opposition members stage a walkout during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reply to governor’s address in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.
Credit: DH Photo/Krishnakumar P S
Bengaluru: Reiterating the Congress party’s commitment to the government’s flagship guarantee schemes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday predicted that the BJP, which has been opposing these initiatives, would bite the dust in the next Assembly elections.
Siddaramaiah cited Congress’ performance in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and its clean sweep of all three Assembly seats in byelections in Karnataka as people’s endorsement of the government’s welfare schemes.
Participating in a debate in Legislative Council on the Governor’s address, he said that it was ironical that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had so vehemently criticised the guarantee schemes, had “copied” these initiatives during his campaign for LS polls.
“Several BJP governments have also adapted our pro-people schemes to retain power in their respective states,” he said. Dubbing the opposition’s criticism the guarantee schemes “unfounded,” Siddaramaiah made it clear that the government would neither shelve nor revise any of its flagship initiatives. “Although we have earmarked Rs 51,000 crore for these schemes in this year’s budget, the government will increase the allocation in the days to come,” the CM added.
Reminding the BJP that it had never secured a majority, although the saffron party had come to power in 2008 and 2019, Siddaramaiah said, “The BJP resorted to dubious methods such as Operation Lotus to remain in power. Next time too, you will bite the dust.”
Defending the government’s decision to hike taxes, and fees on various goods and services, the CM said that no dispensation, including the Centre, could remain in power without increasing cess and charges on services. “We are able to mobilise only Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crore despite increasing the taxes. The Union government has also increased taxes time and again,” Siddaramaiah said.
There were sporadic interruptions from the Opposition benches during the CM’s address, particularly when he referenced the failures of the previous BJP-led governments.
All members of the BJP and JD(S), barring H Vishwanath, walked out of the House in protest. The opposition lawmakers opined that Siddaramaiah, instead of replying to the queries they had raised, had focussed only on politics.