Bengaluru, March 25 (NationPress) R. Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition, fiercely criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, asserting that the state has entered a debt cycle to manage its existing liabilities and referring to the 2026–27 Budget as a “credit Budget.”

During the Assembly's Budget discussion, Ashoka revealed that his thorough examination of the Budget indicated a heavy dependence on loans. He stated that the government has accrued Rs 1.32 lakh crore in borrowings, with Rs 84,000 crore allocated for capital spending while the remainder funds guarantee schemes.

He scrutinized the government's fiscal strategies, comparing them unfavorably with former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's administration, which he claimed had delivered a surplus Budget.

Ashoka contended that funds designated for welfare initiatives were either misappropriated or inadequately utilized. He pointed out that Rs 5,000 crore earmarked for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme had not benefitted 1.26 lakh beneficiaries, and Rs 657 crore allocated for the Annabhagya scheme in 2025 remained unspent.

In a comparison of allocations, he noted that Karnataka's health sector funding was only 4.9 percent, significantly below the national average of 8.3 percent and trailing behind states like Delhi, which allocates 14.5 percent. He also highlighted that rural development spending was a mere 2.9 percent, suggesting that Karnataka is falling short in vital areas.

The BJP leader called attention to reductions in funding for various corporations, such as the Devaraj Urs Corporation and the Maratha Development Corporation, alleging misallocation of funds meant for SCSP/TSP to guarantee schemes.

Identifying outstanding liabilities, Ashoka claimed that the government owed Rs 38,000 crore to contractors, Rs 12,500 crore to power distribution firms, and Rs 4,850 crore to the transport sector under the Shakti scheme, among other debts. He further alleged that nearly 41 percent of the appropriated funds remain unutilized.

Addressing the relationship between the Centre and the state, Ashoka accused the state government of downplaying the contributions from the Union government under PM Modi’s leadership, noting that Karnataka had received substantial tax devolution, grants, and assistance for infrastructure initiatives, including metro rail projects and the Jal Jeevan Mission.

He also raised concerns over inconsistencies in the funding figures for the metro system, seeking clarification from the Chief Minister regarding conflicting data presented in official reports and statements by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

In closing, Ashoka asserted that the Budget lacks a vision for development and cautioned that ongoing borrowing for non-productive purposes could exacerbate the state's financial difficulties.