BJP Allegations: Karnataka's Treasury is Depleted
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Synopsis
The Karnataka BJP has alleged that the state treasury is entirely empty, citing several failures of the Congress government including unpaid salaries to guest lecturers and rising costs of essential goods.
Key Takeaways
- BJP claims Karnataka’s treasury is empty.
- Milk prices expected to rise by Rs 5 per litre.
- Unpaid salaries for guest lecturers for months.
- Closure of universities in backward districts criticized.
- Government accused of failing to implement educational guarantees.
Bengaluru, Feb 17 (NationPress) The BJP in Karnataka asserted on Monday that the state’s treasury is entirely “depleted” under the Congress administration.
During a press conference in Bengaluru, Karnataka Legislative Council member N. Ravikumar stated that the government has proposed a Rs 5 increase per litre in milk prices, yet the timeline for implementation remains uncertain.
He pointed out that while the Union government allocates five kilograms of rice, the state government has not deposited the corresponding amount into the beneficiaries' accounts.
Furthermore, he alleged that guest lecturers in high schools and pre-university colleges have gone unpaid for five to six months. In addition, metro fares have seen an increase, along with rising costs for milk and electricity.
Ravikumar criticized the administration under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s second term, stating that it has completely failed.
He accused the government of being in a state of bankruptcy and failing to execute its guarantee schemes effectively.
Ravikumar also condemned the Karnataka government for shutting down newly established universities in underprivileged districts like Koppal, Haveri, Chamarajanagar, and Bidar.
He labeled this decision a significant setback for students in these areas, calling it “the height of foolishness”.
He elaborated that these universities were created to enhance access to higher education in these backward regions.
“This is akin to punishing the buffalo when the ox falls ill,” he remarked, questioning the fairness of denying students their educational rights due to the government’s financial constraints.
Ravikumar urged the government to reassess its decision.
He highlighted that in 2016-17, 6 percent of the budget was dedicated to higher education, whereas the current Congress administration has slashed this to a mere 1.76 percent.
“How can universities and colleges operate without sufficient funding?” he questioned.
Siddaramaiah has announced that the budget session will commence on March 3, with the budget for 2025-26 set to be presented on March 7.
Addressing the Udayagiri police attack incident, Ravikumar rebuked Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad for his comments suggesting that RSS members were involved in the violence. Hariprasad claimed that RSS individuals, disguised in burqas, instigated riots and threw stones.
Ravikumar questioned whether the Congress administration was operational or if it had entirely collapsed. “Were the police present or not? What were they doing?” he inquired.
He further challenged Congress leaders to disclose if any investigation had been undertaken to validate their claims and whether they possessed any reports to support their accusations.
He also blamed the Congress government for allowing certain minority groups to act like “hooligans”.
He noted that had strict actions been taken against troublemakers in areas such as Shivamogga and beyond, such incidents could have been avoided.
