CHIKKAMAGALUR: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday lambasted former CM Siddaramaiah for allegedly enjoying political dividends on the policies of the Central government during his tenure.
During the Congress regime, Bommai said the rice for ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but it was filled in sacks and distributed by the then CM Siddaramaiah. “It was a typical Siddaramaiah’s jathra”, he said.
Speaking after inaugurating the BJP’s Jan Sankalp Yatra in Koppa in Chikkamagalur district, he said the Congress, which ruled for 75 years, had given piped water only to 25 lakh households.
Bommai said, “Those who could not give water ruled the masses and such people cannot help people lead a decent life. Siddaramaiah ruled the state for five years, but did not do anything. He shut down the Lokayukta and started the Anti-Corruption Bureau only to file ‘B’ reports in over 50 cases. This was the style of the Congress government. Why did they not start a medical college in Chikkamagalur?”
“Let us vow to remove the Congress government from the roots and throw it out. The time has come to build a New India from a New Karnataka. The people must make up their minds to vote bank the BJP to power in the state,” the CM said.
Bommai said the incumbent government has given importance to education and has started constructing 8,000 Viveka classrooms in one year. A residential school in the name of Brahmashree Narayana Guru, hostels for SC/ST students and 50 Kanakadasa Hostels for backward classes are also being constructed, he noted.
He said a double-engine government is in power in Karnataka and has built a 6,000 km of National Highway, constructed ports and implemented Jal Jeevan Mission. Tapped water has been provided to 30 lakh houses in just one year. The CM said the government has decided to upgrade the Sringeri Government Hospital to 100 beds. The construction of the hospital building will start within two months, he assured.
Referring to the issues of coffee growers, Bommai said, “I am aware of the problems of encroachment in the Malnad region and the Department of Revenue will soon find out a solution to the problems of coffee growers. A sum of Rs 5.8 crore has been released for repairs of bad roads and another Rs 5 crore additional grant was released on Saturday.”
He said the Datta Peetha is a temple of feelings in this region and MLA C T Ravi has launched a long-drawn battle to offer puja in this temple. A suitable solution will be available soon. He said money has been reserved in the state budget to build a ropeway between Mullaiyanagiri and Datta Peetha.
On the wild elephant menace, Bommai said the government is aware of the menace in this region and said new technology is being used to address this problem. A solatium of Rs 15 lakh is paid for deaths due to elephant attacks. He said a Elephant Task Force has been constituted to check man-elephant conflict in four districts. (ANI)