Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has responded sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent criticisms of the Congress government, urging Modi to first examine the BJP’s record in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of leaving behind a “disastrous legacy” in the state and claimed that his government has fulfilled all five of its major promises, backed by a budget allocation exceeding ₹52,000 crore and an additional ₹52,903 crore committed to capital development.
In a statement on Friday, Siddaramaiah referenced the alleged “40% commission” scandal during the BJP’s tenure, claiming it diverted resources that could have propelled Karnataka’s progress. “We are redirecting the same 40% commission—now to serve the people,” he said. “What was the BJP’s achievement? It enabled corruption, left Karnataka debt-ridden, and relied on propaganda to mask these failures.”
Prime Minister Modi, meanwhile, criticised Congress’s ability to deliver on its promises, stating, “The Congress is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy, but implementing them properly is tough or impossible.” He added that the Congress frequently makes lofty promises to the people without realistic plans for fulfilment, leaving them “badly exposed.”
Modi also addressed AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent call for the Karnataka government to align its promises with the state budget, suggesting Congress faces internal challenges in managing its agenda.
Siddaramaiah countered by scrutinising the Modi government’s national fiscal record, noting that under Modi’s leadership, India’s debt is projected to reach ₹185.27 trillion by FY25, or 56.8% of the GDP, which he argued places a heavy burden on Indian citizens.
The chief minister further accused the Union government of denying Karnataka its fair share of federal funds, noting that the state receives only 13 paise for every rupee it contributes to the Union treasury. This imbalance, he said, undermines “cooperative federalism” and limits the state’s capacity to implement critical welfare schemes.
As the debate intensifies, Congress leaders in Karnataka continue to assert that they are fulfilling their promises, contrasting this with what they describe as the BJP’s shortcomings both in the state and nationwide.
