Karnataka Congress manifesto promises progress in countryside

Every false move of the BJP has been an opportune moment for the Congress, for it has effectively banked on the negative markings of Yeddyurrappa-led government, to woo voters in the forthcoming zilla and taluk panchayat elections.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwar released the Congress manifesto, promising rural development. He assured that all promises would be fulfilled when the Congress comes to power. “If not, we would pressurise the government to implement all these schemes. We will try to realise Gandhi’s ‘Gram Swaraj’ dream,’ he said.

“There is an anti-BJP wave in the state. Panchayat elections will be the best time for people to teach the corrupt BJP government a
lesson. For the last two-and-half years, the BJP has totally neglected rural development,” said Parameshwar.

“Now the BJP government is dilly-dallying on providing reservation for all communities on rotation basis in the panchayats. We will provide reservation if voted to power and that will not change for two terms. We will also set up Ombudsman to look into public complaints and frame rules to conduct proceedings in the panchayats,” he said.

At present, the Central government has allotted Rs5 lakh grant for each gram panchayat. We will raise this to Rs10 lakh, he said.
‘CM is telling lies’

Meanwhile, dismissing chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s claims of the state being financially sound, leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah said that the coffers were empty with Rs8000 crore bills, pending clearance. The state is not in a position to clear the bills of contractors of various development works.

“As the former finance minister, I know the state’s current financial position. The state government budget is Rs56,000 crore, of which Rs20,000 crore comes from central government. The state has borrowed Rs10,000 crore loan this year.. Despite this, the chief minister has claimed the state is financially sound. He is telling lies,” said Siddaramaiah.