HKP to CM: Set things right for minorities

Congress veteran H K Patil has asked Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to “set right” shortcomings in his budget by announcing new schemes for religious minorities and north Karnataka before the budget document is approved by the legislature.

Patil, a former minister who represents Gadag constituency, has also written to former chief minister Siddaramaiah to convene a meeting of the Coordination and Monitoring Committee, which he heads, to discuss “the two serious issues of neglecting minorities and regional imbalance.”

In his letter to Kumaraswamy, Patil argued that he ought to have announced programmes for minorities. “In the 2018 Assembly election, minorities were responsible for the victory of secular parties...” Patil wrote.

“We should have seen in the budget a special package for minorities, especially the poor among them. At least, this can be set right by you announcing some new programmes for minorities during your response in the ongoing budget session.”

Patil extended the same concern for north Karnataka. “Many new taluks are located in north Karnataka and people expected a special programme for infrastructure creation. Instead, the budget only reiterates what was proposed earlier and there’s nothing new,”
Patil wrote.