Key Takeaways
- The Karnataka BJP State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa has demanded a white paper on the financial status of the state government.
- The Congress government has been accused of misusing funds and diverting crucial allocations, which has led to a financial strain on the state.
- The Karnataka state government has seen significant increases in various sectors, including property registration fees, power tariffs, and milk prices.
Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP State President Vijayendra Yediyurappa has called upon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to release a white paper on the financial status of the state government, alleging that funds meant for other purposes were being misused.
Vijayendra asserted that while the BJP is not opposed to the Congress government’s guarantee schemes, the administration has been diverting funds from crucial allocations. He alleged that grants meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been used to finance the schemes, leaving the affected communities disgruntled. “Leaders from these communities have urged the Chief Minister not to cause injustice to their people,” he said in a social media post on Thursday.
Vijayendra further accused the government of releasing funds for guarantee schemes only during elections, stating that this pattern was evident after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections and now ahead of the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls. “The government need not pretend that all is well. Instead, it should issue a white paper,” he demanded.
Criticising the administration’s approach to infrastructure development, he remarked that while Bengaluru continues to struggle with potholes, the government is prioritising projects like a tunnel road.
The financial strain on MLAs is a pressing concern. MLAs are not receiving grants for constituency development, which is a significant issue. Additionally, there is a looming drought and drinking water crisis in parts of Karnataka, and the government needs to take immediate action.
On the political front, Vijayendra alleged that there was internal competition within Congress for the Chief Minister’s position. “Some claim Siddaramaiah will serve a full five-year term, but even those making such statements are eyeing his post,” he remarked.
He further stated that Congress leaders were engaging in a power struggle, oscillating between asserting the party high command’s supremacy and issuing warnings to it.
Raising concerns over rising costs under the current government, Vijayendra pointed out significant increases in various sectors, including a 600 per cent hike in property registration fees, a 30 per cent rise in property guidance values, a 5 per cent increase in hospital service charges, a 14.5 per cent surge in power tariffs, and a 15 per cent rise in milk prices.
He also claimed that the Siddaramaiah government had borrowed Rs 1.9 lakh crore over the past two years, accumulating arrears on pending payments.
