Bengaluru, Sep 10 (IANS): Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah on Thursday expressed confidence that the government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was moving in the right direction, as he congratulated the Chief Minister and his Cabinet on completing 100 days in office.
Speaking after inaugurating the ‘Drudha Karnataka Sankalpa – 100 Days of Successful Completion’ programme at the Vidhana Soudha Banquet Hall, Siddaramaiah said the 100-day milestone was not merely an occasion for celebration but an opportunity for the government to place its performance before the people and demonstrate whether it was fulfilling its responsibilities.
“I feel that the government led by D.K. Shivakumar is moving in the right direction,” Siddaramaiah said, congratulating Chief Minister Shivakumar and all members of his Cabinet.
He said governments in a democracy were accountable to the people, who were the ultimate owners of the system. It was, therefore, important for the government to assess whether the promises made to the people were being implemented.
Siddaramaiah said the government must work towards eliminating social inequality, poverty and unemployment and take steps to increase agricultural production. He noted that the Congress government had completed more than three years in office, while Shivakumar’s tenure as Chief Minister had completed 100 days.
A handbook highlighting the government’s achievements in key departments during the 100-day period was released on the occasion, he said.
Siddaramaiah recalled that before coming to power on May 20, 2023, the Congress had promised five guarantee schemes to the people. He said the Opposition had then claimed that the guarantees could not be implemented and that doing so would bankrupt the state.
However, the Congress government implemented all five guarantees during its first year in office and has been spending around Rs 52,000 crore annually on them, he said.
The former Chief Minister said the schemes were aimed at reducing inequality and providing support to poor people across communities. He stressed that the government should continue the guarantees despite criticism.
Referring to the Congress manifesto, Siddaramaiah said the party had fulfilled most of the 165 promises made in its 2013 manifesto when it was in power. He claimed that Congress was the only party that framed its budget based on its manifesto and worked towards fulfilling its commitments.
He said the government still had more than one-and-a-half years left in its current term and expressed hope that all remaining promises would be fulfilled. Social justice, equal opportunities and empowerment of the poor, Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities, women and workers should remain priorities, he said.
Siddaramaiah also advised Shivakumar not to be concerned about criticism from the Opposition. Taking a swipe at BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, he questioned the BJP’s credibility in speaking about corruption, alleging that corruption had prevailed during the BJP government headed by B.S. Yediyurappa.
On the BJP’s ongoing Ballari Chalo padyatra, Siddaramaiah said the recent 10-day Assembly session had provided an opportunity to discuss the severe drought situation in Karnataka, but the BJP had not adequately raised the issue. Instead, he alleged, the Opposition had focussed on the demand for the resignation of former minister Nagendra.
He described the BJP’s padayatra as a “political gimmick” aimed at returning to power and said the government and Chief Minister need not be concerned about it.
Siddaramaiah said he and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara had undertaken padayatras in the past on issues concerning people’s welfare, including a march to Kudalasangama, whereas the BJP’s present campaign lacked a genuine public cause.
On drought relief, he said Karnataka had already declared 101 taluks as drought-affected and would submit a fresh memorandum to the Centre. He expressed doubts over adequate central assistance, citing what he called outdated norms governing drought relief.
He urged the Shivakumar government not to depend entirely on central assistance and to take proactive measures, including declaring additional drought-hit taluks wherever necessary and implementing both new and existing programmes effectively.
Siddaramaiah also praised the government’s ‘Praja Seva’ initiative and urged ministers to hold public interactions in their respective districts, listen to people’s grievances and ensure their resolution.
He expressed confidence that the Shivakumar government would continue working for the poor, Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities, women and workers and fulfil its commitment to building a strong Karnataka.
