From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 3: Lashing out at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her reported remarks that Karnataka has become ‘bankrupt’ due to implementation of ruling Congress party’s guarantees, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has asked the former to list out contribution to the State despite being elected to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka continuously.
Speaking to media persons near his residence in Bengaluru on Monday, he asserted that Karnataka is financially stable and has no problems in funding the guarantees.
“When we announced the guarantees, the BJP leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and national president J P Nadda were the first to criticize and dismissed the guarantees as revdis. But we went ahead and after the party’s victory in the assembly elections, successfully implemented all the five guarantees,” he said.
Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC President, ridiculed all the BJP leaders from Modi to Shah and others of copying the Karnataka model and announcing similar guarantees in all the subsequent assembly elections. “What happened to Modi’s claim that Karnataka will become bankrupt? Now Nirmala Sitharaman is also saying the same thing. If Karnataka’s guarantees were revdis, why BJP is announcing similar guarantees in all the assembly elections?” he asked.
The Deputy Chief Minister slammed the Union Finance Minister for alleging that Karnataka was suffering from debt burden. “Let her first disclose what the total debt burden under Modi regime is since 2014? Let her also give a list of all her promises and their implementation. We also demand that she should disclose her contribution to Karnataka? Has she forgotten that she is in Rajya Sabha because of the State?” he said.
Shivakumar said Nirmala is known to forget her promises. The promise of grants for the Upper Bhadra Project announced in the previous budget is yet to be implemented. “When a solemn promise is made by her, she should fulfill it. I am ashamed that she is an MP from the State. What is the contribution to the State from her,” he asked.
He said the State’s financial position is sound and stable. Because of the sound financial position, Karnataka has been contributing huge share of taxes to the Centre and is the second largest tax contributor in the country. The State’s record in GST collection is excellent and Nirmala Sitharaman must be fully aware of this instead of alleging that the State is financially bankrupt.
“We have been fighting against the injustice to the State in the devolution of funds. We will continue to do so,” he declared.
The KPCC Chief said none of the JDS legislators had contacted hm. “I have not spoken about JDS MLAs being in touch with me. I merely advised them that they (JDS MLAs and party workers) must look for their future. How long can they be in the party, which professes to be secular in name but is in part of NDA? The JDS party has no ideological commitment or principles,” he said pointing out he had asked the JDS workers to join the Congress party and many are joining.
To a question on BJP Opposition leader R Ashok stating that the Congress party has made up its mind to change the Chief Minister, Shivakumar said Ashok should first worry about his own party and future.
“He (Ashok) has become an astrologer. I also like astrology and will seek time to meet and consult him,” he ridiculed.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government is firm in tackling the menace of micro-finance lending companies and said the government will ruthlessly deal with goondas and rowdies being deployed for loan recovery. The ordinance has enabled more powers to the police to deal with the menace.