Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 14: Leader of the opposition R Ashoka launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, accusing it of failing to fulfill last year’s budgetary promises, mismanaging funds meant for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and prioritizing appeasement politics over governance.
Participating in the Budget debate in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Ashoka criticized the financial planning, calling it an ‘emergency budget’ lacking vision for job creation and economic growth. He pointed out that while the budget speaks poetically about providing citizens a sip of water, students are left struggling due to inadequate grants for universities.
"Even Congress MLAs are voicing concerns about fund shortages," he said, citing MLA Raju Kage’s dramatic statement about considering suicide over financial distress. He also highlighted the growing frustration among Anganwadi and ASHA workers due to a lack of adequate support.
Ashoka raised concerns over Karnataka’s rising debt, stating that while the BJP government had borrowed Rs 80,641 crore during the pandemic-hit 2021-22 period, the Congress government has significantly increased borrowing since taking office. He claimed that under CM Siddaramaiah, the state's debt has surged to Rs 7,81,095 crore, with the chief minister alone responsible for Rs 4,91,000 crore of it—accounting for 63 per cent of the total debt.
He further pointed out that the budget’s revenue targets are unrealistic, with the government setting an ambitious goal of Rs 2.08 lakh crore despite failing to meet last year’s Rs 1.89 lac crore target. The excise department’s revenue goal of Rs 40,000 crore, he alleged, reflects an over-reliance on alcohol sales.
On social sector allocations, Ashoka accused the government of not doing enough for Scheduled Caste and Tribe communities, which make up 24 per cent of the population. He questioned why they were allocated only Rs 42,017 crore when, based on population, they should receive Rs 98,701 crore. Meanwhile, he pointed out, Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan has sought Rs 60,000 crore for the Muslim community, which comprises 14 per cent of the population.
Reiterating that borrowing itself is not the issue, Ashoka argued that the Congress government is diverting loans towards election promises and political agendas rather than developmental projects. He recalled that in 2017, CM Siddaramaiah himself had insisted that loans should be used strictly for asset creation, yet his current approach contradicts that stance.
In response, CM Siddaramaiah defended the government’s financial management, asserting that Karnataka’s fiscal health remains within the prescribed limits of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2002. He acknowledged a revenue deficit of Rs 19,262 crore but assured that efforts are underway to achieve a surplus next year.
However, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad countered the CM’s claims, alleging that the government has taken an additional Rs 44,000 crore loan outside the budget, pushing Karnataka’s debt beyond acceptable limits.