BJP demands White Paper on Karnataka’s finances

Accusing the Congress government of letting down farmers in distress by failing to offer concrete financial support, the BJP has demanded a White Paper on the State’s finances to know if poor financial condition had come in the way of helping farmers.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that the government had displayed an “apathetic attitude” towards farmers by announcing a paltry one-time subsidy of ₹2,500 to them. Referring to a recent note by the Finance Department that had cautioned against taking up new schemes that the State was not in a position to raise new loans, he said Karnataka was in a bad condition financially. Already, several legislators and Ministers had started referring to the financial burden of guarantee schemes on the State exchequer, he said. A White Paper will provide a clear picture, he added.

Mr. Vijayendra alleged that despite paucity of funds, the government was using public money to pay the salaries and allowances of chairpersons of guarantee implementation committees. Public funds were also being used to support Bharat Jodo Youth associations, he said.

Booth Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre

Mr. Vijayendra announced that the BJP would launch a “Booth Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre” to prepare the party for the forthcoming elections to taluk and zilla panchayats. Under this initiative, the State leaders would tour all Assembly constituencies in Karnataka within the next three months “to create awareness on the alleged failures of the Congress government”, he said.

Referring to KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad’s statement that the Congress would take up Bharat Jodo 2.0 from Shikaripura constituency, Mr. Vijayendra said he had accepted Mr. Hariprasad’s challenge of wresting the seat from the BJP. “Mr. Hariprasad has never won an election in his entire life. Let him come to Shikaripura and see for himself the development works undertaken by the BJP,” he said.