Yatnal's 'big lie' on irrigation: CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused BJP's Basanagouda Patil Yatnal of speaking “a big lie” that the union government gave Rs 10,000 crore to Karnataka for irrigation projects.

"I’m not sure if (Yatnal) thinks this (Assembly) is an RSS meeting. The Centre has given only Rs 1,030 crore and not Rs 10,000 crore,” he said in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Since 2023, the Congress government has spent over Rs 76,000 crore on the ‘guarantee’ schemes. “Is this possible if the government was bankrupt?” he said.

“Even after all the lies and propaganda about the guarantees, you (BJP) lost all three bypolls.” For capital expenditure, Siddaramaiah said his government will spend Rs 56,000 crore in the current fiscal.

“In 2025-26, capital expenditure will be Rs 83,000 crore,” he said. “We’ve provided money for development and guarantees for Karnataka’s progress.”

Will intensify war on drugs: HM

Home Minister G Parameshwara told the Legislative Assembly that the police department would intensify its crackdown against drugs in the state. He was speaking while congratulating the Mangaluru police for seizing MDMA worth Rs 75 crore, the biggest such haul.

"We have zero tolerance for drugs," he said.

Speaker UT Khader hailed the Mangaluru police for their feat.

"If drugs are coming from Delhi, it means that there's collusion at the airport itself. Here, it reaches the peddlers. If this is taken to its logical end, even the peddlers will start fearing," Khader said. 

Lamani advised 10 days of rest: Speaker

Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader told the House on Monday that Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani has been advised "full rest" for 10 days following a road accident.

"He met with a road accident on Friday. He's been hospitalised with injuries on his spine and head. He's under observation at Apollo Hospital here," Khader said.