Siddaramaiah rebuffs Oppn's allegations of Karnataka govt draining all money on guarantee schemes

Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned opposition's claim of there being no money with the state government after spending it all on guarantee schemes. He retorted with a question of his own asking how has the government managed to spend on the developmental works if there are no funds.

"They should know that apart from Rs 50,000 crore spent for guarantee schemes, the state government has allocated Rs 83,000 crore capital expenditure this financial year to create assets, while they allocated Rs 52,000 crore last year," he said.

Siddaramaiah spoke after laying the foundation stone for 117 developmental works worth Rs 429.04 crore in Periyapatna assembly constituency in Mysuru district on Saturday.

CM Siddaramaiah said, "The fund allocated for these developmental works in Periyapatna and Rs 3647 crore approved in Cabinet meeting in M M Hill are just some examples of funds being allotted for developmental works," he said.

He said, "BJP and JD(S) leaders looted the state during their tenures and left. BJP and JD(S) lies. We won't lie, we keep up our word. Guarantee schemes would not be stopped for the entire term.

They are implemented to give equal opportunities for all and build an equal society and to ensure none are exploited. Women have made more than 400 crore trips under Shakthi scheme and there is no limit for trips; 1.62 crore families are benefited with Gruha Jyothi scheme; 1.22 crore women are benefited with Gruhalakshmi scheme. Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 per month under these schemes are helping them manage additional expenses of home," he said.

CM Siddaramaiah said, "Since agriculture workers have migrated to the city, in order to ease work of farmers, and increase their agricultural produce, we are giving funds for 380 farmers, for purchasing agriculture equipment here. 50% of the subsidy is from the State Government. Farmers could get good yield with good SouthWest and NorthEast monsoon showers last year. IMD has predicted good rainfall for this year too," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, "Power is not permanent but the mark we leave with our work is. While people have strengthened the hands of Congress with 136 seats, we have been able to help people of all communities with five guarantee schemes by following the principles of Basavanna and humanity.

"There were comments about these schemes by opposition leaders. They have now become model for the entire country. They are now being replicated in other states in different names. Did B S Yeddyurappa or H D Kumarswamy or H D Devegowda give them when they were in power?" he questioned.

He added, "While a plant worth Rs 147 Crore to produce more than 40 megawatt solar power has been launched now, this will help provide electricity during day time for Irrigation pump sets, at agricultural lands in forest fringes where man animal conflict is common," Shivakumar said.

Several benefits were distributed on the occasion. ID cards were distributed for Shepherds. Hebatooru village was declared as the first village in the district to get water for 24/7. Dr B R Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivanram Jayanthi were also celebrated on the occasion. Minister H C Mahadevappa, M C Sudhakar, Byrathi Suresh, MLC D Thimmaiah and others participated.

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Minister for animal husbandry and sericulture and Periyapatna MLA K Venkatesh said that they have released the subsidy to milk producers till the end of March. The process got delayed as the BJP led State Government had not cleared the subsidy to the tune of Rs 700 Crore, he said.

He said, "We increased milk prices twice including Rs 3 per litre once and Rs 4 per litre once to help farmers. But BJP leaders did not think about farmers' well being but protested thinking about people in the cities. The State Government is in favor of farmers and poor people. They oppose everything. There is no cooperation from the Central Government to the State Government with tax devolution and others," Venkatesh said.

He said, "BJP leaders comment that there is no money with the State Government, then where is the question of looting the percentage of money which they are quoting?" Venkatesh questioned.