BJP takes people for granted: Moily

Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily has stated that the BJP's act of releasing its manifesto just a day before the elections for Gujarat Assembly shows that it is not concerned about responding to people's problems, and it has taken them just for granted.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behaving as if he himself is the entire party," Mr Moily charged.

Manishankar Aiyar was suspended from Congress Party for his remarks against the prime minister, and it shows the courage of the party. This cannot happen in the BJP, the Chikballapur MP added.

Loan burden

Legislative Council former chairman V R Sudarshan criticised the 'Gujarat model' of development, saying that the accumulated loan of the Gujarat government is Rs 2.23 lakh crore, while it is Rs 1.73 lakh crore in case of Karnataka government.

The Union Government should issue a white paper on the adverse effects of the demonetisation of higher denomination notes. Faulty implementation of the GST is also troubling businessmen, he said.

Ruling out the possibility of a hung Assembly in the State in 2018 elections, Mr Sudarshan said, "we believe in the survey report the party already has, and it says that people are with the Congress".

instead of asking Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde to behave like a gentleman, Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi is asking the Congress leadership to take action against the chief minister, he added.

BSY blamed

Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil alleged that State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa is creating a misconception among the people through his statements about Mahadayi dispute.

Even if Goa agrees to share water, a lot of physical works have to be taken up to divert the water, which requires time, and Mr Yeddyurappa has no knowledge about this, he said.

Giving false assurance of resolving the dispute fast, Mr Yeddyurappa is just running an entertainment show in the background of forthcoming elections, Mr Patil added.