Karnataka budget: Siddaramaiah leads a ‘flower power’ protest against the BJP government in Karnataka
Karnataka budget: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has stated that his government will present an ‘action taken report’ to counteract the Congress’ claims
Karnataka budget: Ex-Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who is also the state’s opposition leader, attended the budget presentation on Friday with an unusual accessory – a flower tucked behind his right ear – to highlight claims that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has ‘cheated people’ by failing to fulfill promises made before the 2018 state election.
The southern state will vote later this year, making this the BJP government’s final full budget under current chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The Congress and Siddaramaiah have accused the BJP and the Bommai government of failing to keep even 10% of the 600-plus promises made in 2018. He claimed that Congress had fulfilled 158 of the 165 promises made in 2013.
According to Bommai, his government will present an ‘action taken report’. “We will give a report on everything that happened during the budget, what we said, and what we did. We will provide a report on actions taken “He was quoted by the PTI news agency.
The chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio and hopes to lead the BJP to victory in the 2023 election, has stated that this will be a “pro-people budget,” with a focus on programs that help the poorer and weaker sections of the population, such as farmers, the working class, and women.
In light of the impending election, Congress has criticized the BJP for allegedly preparing an “election manifesto budget.”
DK Shivakumar, the state unit’s chief, stated: “The BJP has no intention of assisting people. The BJP government is only interested in making announcements and making promises…”
Meanwhile, ahead of the election, Bommai reached out to the farming community, offering them an increase in the upper limit of interest-free, short-term loans – from 3 lacs to 5 lakh – beginning with the next fiscal year.
“This year, loans worth 25,000 crores will be distributed to over 30 lakh farmers,” he said, adding that his government would provide an additional subsidy of 10,000 under the ‘Bhoo Siri’ scheme for ‘Kisan Credit Card’ holders in 2023/24.
Women farm laborers were also enticed, with a ‘Shrama Shakthi’ scheme that will provide 500 per head of landless women farm laborers monthly.
According to Bommai, the majestic Ram temple will be built in the Ramanagara district.
