JOIN USGovt to focus on strengthening economy, says Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under criticism for the neglect of the industrial sector during his two-year rule, has said that the government would lay thrust on the growth of economy in the years to come.
Addressing the media on the completion of two years of Congress rule in the State here on Wednesday, the chief minister said that his government would focus on industries, power and water resources during the remaining tenure of three years.
Siddaramaiah said that while the social sector would continue to receive its due share, the government would accord priority to building long-term assets. “We are likely to achieve self-sufficiency in the power sector in the next three years. The commissioning of new units at Raichur and Ballari will add 3,000 MW to the State grid in the next two years,” he said.
On the general perception that the industrial sector faced a decline and there were no new projects in the State, Siddaramaiah said statistics proved otherwise.
The State government cleared new projects worth Rs 95,959 crore in the last two years. The projects have the potential to employ 2.27 lakh people. Two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp, which had planned to set up a plant in Dharwad, shifted to the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as more concessions were offered there, he said.
He rubbished the Opposition’s claim that e-commerce firms such as Amazon and Flipkart operating in the State were evading Value Added Tax (VAT). Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, said he had not heeded to the traders’ demand to lower the VAT slabs in anticipation of the introduction of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime in 2016-17. He said the State government will hold the Global Investors Meet in Bengaluru during September or October this year.
Asserting that he could continue to be the chief minister for the remaining term of the government, Siddaramaiah said that he was not ashamed of according priority to Ahinda.
“I gave priority to the Ahinda and I am not ashamed of it. I have always stood for social justice and have campaigned for providing the deprived with education, employment and healthcare,” he said. He added that Cabinet would be reshuffled after gram panchayat polls.
The Congress hold a rally at Davangere on May 16, to mark the completion of two years of the ruling regime in the State.
Booklet on achievements
The Congress will come out with a booklet to highlight the achievements of the government. It would be released on May 16 at the Congress rally in Davangere. The government went for no celebrations to mark its two-year rule as the model code of conduct for gram panchayat polls is in force.
SIDDARAMAIAH, CHIEF MINISTER: I gave priority to the Ahinda and I am not ashamed of it. I have always stood for social justice and have campaigned for providing the deprived with education, employment and healthcare.