Counter BJP over farmers' issues, financial status: Siddaramaiah to Congress MLAs

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asked his ministers and party MLAs to ensure that the Opposition BJP does not run away with the narrative when it comes to issues being faced by farmers as well as the state's financial position. 

Siddaramaiah met ministers and MLAs from Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Vijayanagar, Ballari, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad and Uttara Kannada.

This was day two of his meeting with party MLAs, who have been promised a special grant of Rs 50 crore each. 

"Despite non-cooperation from the Centre, farmers mustn't suffer," Siddaramaiah told lawmakers.

"The Centre has reduced urea supply to the state by 1.66 lakh metric tonnes. Still, the BJP is staging protests for political reasons. You must tell your voters about this," he said. 

The previous BJP government invited tenders for works worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore without funds, Siddaramaiah charged.

"Also, works worth Rs 1.66 lakh crore were taken up under the CM's discretionary quota and they (BJP) left behind bills of Rs 72,000 crore," he said. 

The Congress government is spending Rs 1.12 lakh crore on welfare programmes every year, including Rs 52,000 crore on 'guarantee' schemes, social security pensions and subsidies.

"We're also spending Rs 1.24 lakh crore on salary and pension payments. We're spending Rs 45,600 crore towards interest payments. Despite all this, we'll see capital expenditure of Rs 83,200 crore this year. This is 20.03% of the budget, the highest in the country," he said. 

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra attacked the Siddaramaiah administration over constituency grants.

"It's been a week since the CM promised Rs 50 crore to Congress MLAs. Where's the grant? Also, where's Rs 25 crore that each Opposition MLA was to get?" he said.