JOIN USTerming H D Kumaraswamy as “compromise chief minister”, BJP MLA Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday charged that through his maiden budget, the former had not only compromised politically, he had also compromised the state’s finances.
Speaking during the discussion on budget in the Assembly, Bommai said Kumaraswamy, by giving into political compulsions, had driven the state to the brink of revenue deficit.
Bommai asked Kumaraswamy if it was prudent on the part of the government to resort to more borrowings, merely to implement the
Rs 34,000-crore loan waiver scheme. He pointed out that 9.78% of the revenue generated was going towards repayment of debts in the form of interest.
Demanding to know how the chief minister was planning to mobilise such a huge amount, Bommai said it would be an impossible task if the government failed to focus on asset creation.
Attacking the government for completely neglecting Stage 3 of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) in the budget, Bommai said if Kumaraswamy failed to set aside money for the project, it would mean that the government was against the development of north Karnataka districts.
He said the government should give the same importance it had given to waiving crop loans to the UKP project. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Govind Karjol compared the JD(S)-Congress coalition to a visually challenged man shouldering along a lame person.
Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa said, “If the government continues at this pace, the UKP project will not see light of the day even after 25 years.” He suggested that the government should raise irrigation bonds.