Bypoll: No need for CM to camp in Bagalkot if confident of work, guarantees, says K’taka BJP

Bagalkot (Karnataka), April 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) The BJP on Wednesday criticised Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, for staying in Bagalkot constituency for campaigning for the upcoming bypolls.

Karnataka BJP State President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, remarked sarcastically that if the Chief Minister truly had confidence in the government’s development work and guarantee schemes, there would have been no need to camp in Bagalkot for five days for campaigning.

Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, Vijayendra criticised that such a situation of sitting there with the entire Cabinet would not have arisen. He urged the government to issue a White Paper on the state’s financial condition.

“Even now, it is not too late. Issue a White Paper on the state’s financial condition,” he urged.

Alleging that the state government was citing the High Court and reservation issues as excuses for its alleged inability to mobilise funds for guarantee schemes, Vijayendra urged the Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, to present a true picture of the state’s financial condition to the public.

On the bye-elections, he expressed confidence that the BJP would win both Davanagere and Bagalkot constituencies due to the hard work of its workers.

He claimed that Congress workers were active only at night and that there was anger and dissatisfaction among the public against the state government.

As a result, he said, the BJP would register a historic victory in Davanagere South and that the Congress would not be able to stop the BJP’s winning momentum in Bagalkot.

He further criticised the government’s claim that Karnataka’s guarantee schemes were a model for the country. Citing Himachal Pradesh, he said the Chief Minister there had written to temples seeking 50 per cent of devotees’ income due to financial strain caused by guarantees and inability to pay government employees’ salaries. He also alleged that in Telangana, the Chief Minister had admitted in the Assembly that funds were insufficient for salaries and development.

“Do not try to convince us about guarantees. Convince your own senior party leaders such as R.V. Deshpande, your financial advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy, and B.R. Patil,” he said, also referring to Raju Kage, who allegedly attempted suicide over lack of funds.

Vijayendra said it has been three years since the Congress government came to power. “Within a month of assuming office, you had promised to fill vacant posts through direct recruitment. Have you forgotten that promise?” he asked.

He alleged that more than 2.86 lakh vacancies remain unfilled, pushing the youth onto the streets in protest. He further pointed out that the Karnataka High Court had to intervene to address the grievances of unemployed youth.

Referring to protests in Dharwad, he said that when lakhs of youth demanded justice, the government responded with a lathi charge. “Why are you hiding the truth?” he questioned.

“In the state’s history, for the first time, even the police department responsible for maintaining law and order is not being paid salaries on time, with delays of 15 to 30 days. Doesn’t this indicate the seriousness of the financial crisis?” he asked.

He criticized the government for spending time blaming the central government instead of addressing issues. Referring to the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) submergence compensation, he said that a special cabinet meeting was held four months ago, where compensation of Rs 40 lakh per acre for irrigated land and Rs 30 lakh for dry land was announced. “How many thousands of crores have been allocated for this in the budget?” he questioned.

Source: IANS