Siddaramaiah challenged Basavaraj Bommai to a debate on the achievements of the government. (file)
Bangalore:
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday termed the state government’s ‘Jansevak’ scheme to provide 58 services including door-to-door ration as a gimmick.
“Supplying ration is the primary duty of the government. What they (government) are doing is a drama,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
He was referring to the ‘Jansevak’ scheme launched in Bengaluru by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, in which 58 services were delivered at the doorsteps of citizens. Mr Bommai had said that it would be implemented across Karnataka from January 26.
Siddaramaiah also wanted to know what the BJP government was giving to the people by stopping the populist programs of the previous Congress government.
“They (BJP) reduced the amount of rice given to each person from seven kilograms to five kilograms under the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme. They closed Indira Canteen, Shoo Bhagya, Shala Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya and Vidyasiri Scholarship,” he said. So what are they giving to the public?” asked Siddaramaiah.
He also challenged the Chief Minister to come on a common platform to debate the achievements of the government.
“I challenged him (Mr Bommai) twice for a debate in Hangal (where the by-election was held on October 30 and Congress won) but he did not come,” he said.
Demanding that the next assembly session be held at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, the Congress leader said no session was held there for the last three years.
Siddaramaiah said he used to hold sessions there every year.
Asked about the BJP’s protest against him in Bengaluru on Wednesday for allegedly insulting Dalits during his public speech at Sindgi on October 26, Siddaramaiah alleged that the allegations were baseless as he never said anything against Dalits.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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