JOIN USSiddaramaiah government better than Krishna's, says H K Patil
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil has taken exception to former chief minister S M Krishna’s remark that the Siddaramaiah government was the “worst” in his political career. He said the Siddaramaiah government was doing far better than the regime headed by S M Krishna from 1999 to 2004.
Speaking to journalists in Hubballi on Tuesday, Patil said Krishna’s adverse remarks about the Siddaramaiah government showed he was “ill-informed”. “I have worked under S M Krishna, and I know the difference between that government and this one,” he said.
In a separate interaction with journalists in Dharwad, Patil expressed displeasure at senior Congress leaders criticising the government. Without naming senior leaders such as C K Jaffer Sharief, M V Rajasekharan and H Vishwanath, he said their adverse remarks about the government were “harming” the party which was going through “difficult times”. He said Krishna’s decision to join the BJP had dented the reputation of the Congress but said they were trying to “control the damage”.
The minister predicted that the Congress would win the by-elections to Nanjanagud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies. He also said the government’s decision on the Kappatagudda forest in Gadag district would be in tune with the public opinion.
CM hits back at SMK
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday hit back at former chief minister S M Krishna, who had described his government as the worst regime Karnataka has ever seen, reports DHNS from Mysuru.
Speaking to journalists here, before leaving for campaigning of the Congress candidate in the Nanjangud Assembly constituency, Siddaramaiah said Krishna should look back and introspect what kind of government he had led.
“Krishna is a senior politician. I do not question his foresight. But he should remember that the strength of the Congress reduced from 140 MLAs to 60 MLAs in 2004 Assembly elections, following the rule of his government. Prominent losers were 30 ministers of his Cabinet,” Siddaramaiah said.