Siddu takes a swipe at BJP

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been at the receiving end of criticism in the last few days, hit out at his detractors, especially the BJP, on Thursday.

He chose a briefing to the media after a review meeting to assess the drought situation in the State to take a swipe at his detractors.

He rubbished the BJP’s petition to Governor H R Bhardwaj that he direct the government to act on the problems plaguing the State. “The BJP is only playing politics,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said the government had been constantly monitoring the drought situation in the State since October last and had put in place long-term measures to mitigate the drinking water shortage.

He also took a dig at BJP leaders R Ashoka, Shobha Karandlaje and D V Sadananda Gowda for their recent statements against his government.

On Ashoka condemning the recent hikes in bus fares, Siddaramaiah said it was during the former’s tenure as transport minister that the two transport corporations faced huge losses.

He said it was the BJP government which had cleared the toll agreement for the airport road.

“It is ironical that the BJP leaders are protesting the toll hike. They have no shame,” he said.

He said Energy Minister D K Shivakumar was ready for a public debate with Shobha Karandlaje on the power scenario in the State, and alleged mismanagement of the sector during the BJP regime.

 He said it was during Sadandana Gowda’s tenure as chief minister that the government had given clearance for the high-tension transmission line from Mysore to Kozhikode in Kerala via Kodagu district. But today, the BJP leaders were feigning ignorance, he said.

He termed as baseless the Opposition charges that the government had slid into slumber due to the model code of conduct.

When reminded that it was Governor Bhardwaj who had made the statement, he said he had never spoken to him on the issue.