Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 8: Chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, who would be tabling the budget in the state assembly today afternoon, will have to do a tight rope walk in view of the need to allocate large sums of money to certain fields. In particular, he has to earmark huge funds for the ambitious loan waiver scheme already announced by him, and also set aside funds for the ambitious irrigation projects like Yettinahole and Mekedatu.
Many think that the chief minister would be implementing the free bus pass scheme announced by Siddaramaiah earlier under which students’ right from first standard to post graduation will be eligible to get free bus passes for their travel between their homes and educational institutions.
Leader of the opposition in the state assembly and state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, wonders on what basis Kumaraswamy will present the budget, taking into account that fact that 20 Congress MLAs have been saying that Kumaraswamy is not their chief minister. "The government is as good as non-existent for the people. I am surprised as to how can he present the budget," he quipped.
"The state government has been doling out false promises since the last eight to nine months. Many have said that they do not consider Kumaraswamy as the chief minister. Kumaraswamy himself has said that he has been functioning like a clerk with no liberty to take any decisions. He also had offered to resign in the past. As a number of people have expressed no-confidence against the chief minister, we oppose presentation of budget by a minority government. We will raise our voices against the minority status of the government and depending upon the situation, will carry on with our fight," he said. He also dismissed as false the charge that BJP has been offering huge lures to attract MLAs from other parties.
In general, everyone expects some kind of bonanza from the government to common people in the state budget.
Former Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, said that BJP, which functions under the guidance of RSS, which does not have faith in the constitution and parliamentary system of democracy, has been pursuing Operation Lotus based on these bad principles. Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader, R Ashok, said that Siddaramaiah, who knows that his party is going through turmoil, has been acting out a drama to fool the people. He accused Congress of trying to snatch away BJP legislators by enticing them.
At the same time, chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, asserted that the popular budget of the coalition government will affectively seal the lips of BJP. He reiterated that he is prepared to prove his majority in the assembly even now. About the budget, he said he would be coming out with budget which protests interests of all and paves way for integrated development of the state. About the absence of certain Congress and JD(S) legislators in the session, he said he is in contact with everyone and people may be having their personal obligations.
Hitting back at the BJP's charge that he is heading a minority government, Kumaraswamy challenged it to move no confidence motion. He also expressed the preparedness for detailed debate on any issues in the budget session and wished that the BJP will allow constructive discussions to take place by not resorting to creating pandemonium in the legislature.