Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 8: Union minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has sharply criticised the Karnataka state Budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, calling it an exercise in minority appeasement and financial mismanagement.

Addressing the media, Joshi alleged that the Budget has pushed Karnataka into a debt crisis, nearing Rs 8 lac cr. “While presenting a Rs 4.09 lac cr Budget, the Chief Minister has failed to ensure balanced development,” he said.

He pointed out that the state's fiscal deficit stands at Rs 19,262 cr, while the overall financial burden has climbed to Rs 7.64 lac cr. With the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at 24.91 per cent, he warned that Karnataka may soon breach the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act’s 25 per cent threshold.

Joshi further slammed the budget for lacking a vision for economic growth, infrastructure development, and fiscal discipline. “Only 14 per cent has been allocated to agriculture, 10 per cent to education, and a mere 5 per cent to healthcare. The Chief Minister constantly depends on the Centre instead of focusing on the state's progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, union minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H D Kumaraswamy, took to social media platform X, alleging, “Favouritism for a few and disregard for the majority! This is the Congress-led Karnataka government's budget — appeasement over development.”

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai also lashed out, terming the Budget ‘anti-people’ and ‘anti-development.’ He criticised its lack of economic reforms and failure to address regional disparities.

Bommai pointed out a Rs 10,000 cr shortfall in projected revenue and a decline in capital expenditure. “While the government claims a fiscal deficit of 2.95 per cent, in reality, it will exceed 3 per cent,” he said.

He also slammed the reduced allocations for education, women and child development, and the lack of special funds for irrigation and rural growth. “The Rs 5,000 cr allocation for Kittur Karnataka remains unspent, and no new schemes have been introduced to address regional imbalances,” he added.

Bommai accused the Congress government of catering primarily to the Bengaluru-Mysuru region, leaving North Karnataka neglected. “This Budget does nothing for the common people, farmers, or the state’s overall development,” he concluded.