Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah said that if the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa proves that the allegation of the Opposition on the financial status of the state is wrong, then he is ready to tender resignation to his post.
Speaking to presspersons, he said in 2008-09, the government had presented Rs 54,000 crore budget. Of which, the government could not utilise Rs 13,660 crore. In 2009-10, out of 62,000 crore budget, the government had not utilised 11,880 crore. In 2010-11, out of 31,000 crore, the government has utilised only 16,080 crore. The government has failed to mobilise resources. Taxes are not collected properly. The contractors have to be paid a sum of Rs 8,000 crore. The loan of the state was Rs 50,000 crore in 2004-05 which has increased to Rs 97,500 crore, he added.
He said “the State treasury is not full. However, the CM’s house is full. The houses of ministers are safe and not the government’s treasury.”
“The money looted by the BJP government is used for getting MLAs from opposition to its fold through Operation Kamala. ‘Operation Kamala’ is one of the cheapest means in politics. Taking MLAs into party fold using money power will not bring any honour to the state government. The Operation Kamala will work reverse to the BJP in the future. All should respect the democratic values. Taking JD(S) MLAs into party fold is murder of democracy. To protect democracy, one should not indulge in such cheap politics,” he added.
“In the last Assembly elections, the BJP had the strength of 110 MLAs. The JD(S), Congress and indepent MLAs strength was 114. If the Congress-JD(S) and independent MLAs had joined hands, then the government could have been formed. “As our party High Command was not in favour of coalition, we decided to remain as Opposition.
However, the BJP formed the government by taking six independent MLAs to its fold. Now what it has done to the independent MLAs?” he asked and added that the BJP can not be trusted, he added.
Not released
Siddaramaiah said the government had announced Rs 25 crore as special package to Kodagu. However, the funds have not released so far.
The BJP government has failed to solve Jamma bane row so far.