Congress govt may advance Assembly polls to Dec, says BSY

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Friday charged that the Siddaramaiah government is utilising the subsidised rice provided by the Centre and distributing it under the Anna Bhagya scheme, claiming it as the state’s initiative.

Addressing a convention at Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district as part of the BJP’s Janasamparka Abhiyan, Yeddyurappa said the NDA government has been procuring rice and wheat from the open market and dispatching them to states at subsidised prices.

“However, in Karnataka it is being distrubuted under the Anna Bhagya scheme. (Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah is using his photo in advertisements and making false claims that it is his initiative,” Yeddyurappa said.

The BJP leader said that he had indication that the Siddaramaiah government, faced with a number of scams and corruption charges, may call for elections in December and asked party workers to be prepared for the same.

He termed it unfortunate that Siddaramaiah is reluctant to waive loans raised by farmers. “The Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra governments waived crop loans without any aid from the Centre,” he said. He reiterated that if the state government does not waive the loans by June-end, the party will make arrangements to bring five lakh farmers to Bengaluru to lay a siege to the Vidhana Soudha.

Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa had breakfast at the residence of Byllappa, a Dalit in Nelamangala. He had idli, uppittu and chitranna, served in a copper plate.