Jinnah must be happy with Siddaramaiah's budget as Congress follows Muslim League's agenda: CT Ravi

BJP MLC and former Minister C T Ravi stated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has continued the communal and criminal agenda of the Muslim League through the budget he presented on Friday.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Ravi described budget as appeasement politics that poses a risk to the future under Congress.

"The Muslim League played a role in dividing the country, and the budget will create further divisions between Hindus and Muslims," he said.

He said that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and KPCC President, as well as Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, must clarify whether this is a Muslim League budget or a Congress budget.

"Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was responsible for dividing the country along religious lines, must be happy with Siddaramaiah's budget, which seems to be inspired by him," he said.

"There was no scope for reservation on religious lines in the constitution. Even the constitution drafting committee had rejected the demand for reservation on religious lines, but Siddaramaiah has made reservation for Muslims in government contracts, educational fees concessions and institutions have been announced, but the same privileges have not been announced for poor from Hindu community," he said.

Describing the Karnataka government's budget as one of Muslim appeasement and communal politics by Congress, he criticised the increased honorarium for "Muslim mullahs" and the withdrawal of criminal cases against those who had attacked a police station in Hubballi.

"During the assembly elections, Siddaramaiah had claimed to be a Hindu. Shivakumar, too, had stated that he was born a Hindu and would die as one. it is the Hindu community that voted for Congress, not just Muslims," he said.

Ravi further questioned whether the government would be able to spend the remaining 45% of the budget in the final 23 days of the fiscal year, given that 55% of the budget estimates have already been spent.

He further said, "The loans borrowed by the Siddaramaiah government have surpassed those of all previous chief ministers in the state. There is a Rs. 10,000 crore revenue deficit despite significant tax hikes, including a 600% increase in property registration taxes, a 30% hike in property guidance value, a 10% increase in vehicle registration taxes, a 5% hospital cess, and increases in government and electric vehicle registration fees, as well as a 25% rise in property taxes. The government's total borrowings have now reached Rs. 4 lakh crore, with 27% of the budget's estimates coming from loans and 19% from excise duty."

Addressing the December 19 incident, in which he was accused of making derogatory remarks against Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, Ravi called "an unwanted one".  

He said he would not comment further as the matte  is pending in court, and Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti has issued a ruling on the matter.

Regarding the factionalism within the BJP state unit, Ravi said the party's high command is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate action. He added that the issue would not be discussed in the media.