BJP-Janata Dal(S) opposing our efforts at empowering poor, claims Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticizes BJP for spreading lies about lack of funds for development, highlighting welfare programs and achievements.

The Opposition parties, BJP-Janata Dal(S), are opposing our efforts at empowering the poor, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday.

“The welfare and development works of our government are clearly visible to the people. But then the BJP is spreading lies that there is no money for development,” he said, after launching development works worth nearly ₹200 crore in Ron of Gadag district.

“This year, the State government has allocated ₹1,20,000 crore for development. We are also carrying out various welfare and social security programmes by spending over ₹52,000 crore. Most of this money goes directly into the hands of the people through our guarantee programmes. But then the BJP is spreading lies about these programmes and the development programmes,” he said.

“The BJP leaders are falsely claiming there is no money for development. They are repeating the baseless lies in the face of the successful implementation of these programmes. However, the people of the State are not fools to believe in those lies,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said that over 4.5 crore people in the State are directly benefiting from the guarantee schemes.

“Apart from the expenditure on guarantee schemes, we are spending thousands of crores of rupees on road, water, agriculture, irrigation and other development works. We are also spending thousands of crores of rupees for social welfare, for the progress of the deprived communities and the OBCs,” he said.

“Our government is formulating and implementing programmes to create an equal society as desired by Basavanna, Ambedkar, Gandhi and Buddha. But the BJP wants inequality to stay. It is against the notion of equality and all attempts to build an equal society. The BJP wants to benefit from the inequalities prevailing in society. It is spreading hatred between groups on the basis of caste and religion. It is engaged only in the only politics of dividing people,” the Chief Minister claimed.