Karnataka’s Progress on Account of Liberal Central Grants: Kharge
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 31: Karnataka has achieved progress on fronts not just because of the State BJP Government’s efforts but also on account of release of funds liberally by the Centre under various anti-poverty and infrastructure programmes, Union Labour Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge said on Sunday.
Paying homage to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 26th death anniversary at a function organised at the Congress Bhavan here, Kharge said the BJP government hardly gives credit to the Centre for all-round performance of the State.
''The State government gives credit to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa for achieving the second rank in the implementation of the 20-point programme of the Centre but does not acknowledge the generous help it has been getting from the Centre,” he said.
The Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has emerged as the second top performer of the Centre’s 20 prorgamme after Gujarat during April-July 2010, according to a review conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The 20-point programme encompasses a host of poverty alleviation and rural development schemes.
Kharge said the Congress leaders and workers need to highlight the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s various anti-poverty and urban development programmes during the ensuing zilla and taluk panchayats.
At the same, the election campaign should also focus on failures of the Yeddyurappa government on various fronts during the last 30 months, he said.
Newly appointed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr G Parameshwar said he would give a fitting reply to the BJP’s allegations on payment of bills of the BJP rebels at an appropriate time.
The BJP had indulged in “low-level politics” and the Congress knew how to reply to its baseless charges, Dr Parameshwar said.
The BJP alleged that a company owned by a close relative of a prominent Union Minister from Karnataka footed the bills of BJP rebels who camped in a star hotel in Chennai.
Dr Parameshwar called upon the workers to emulate the ideals and sacrifices made by Indira Gandhi and fight collectively by setting aside differences to overthrow the Yeddyurappa government in the next Assembly elections.
The Congress has a long history and many achievements to its credit to dethrone the BJP from the power, he said.
Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah said the State ranked second in the 20-point programme due the timely release of funds by the Manmohan Singh Government.
The Centre releases Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 20,000 crore annually to the State under various programmes, he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Motamma, former KPCC working president D K Shivakumar, former ministers Ramalinga Reddy and H M Revanna and MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao and others attended the programme and paid floral tribute to the former prime minister.