BENGALURU: Taking pride in defining his Budget for 2017-18 as inclusive with the true spirit of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asserted that he has unveiled his own model which is “Karnataka model” for development of all segments of the society.
Replying to the debate on the Budget for 2017-18 in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah taunted the BJP for depending on a “Modi wave” for its electoral fortunes. “BJP has now stopped talking about “Gujarat model of development” and advertising about “UP model of development”, he said.
“We have our own model which is ‘Karnataka development model’ and we are marching towards it. In the upcoming by-polls for Gundlupet and Nanjanagud, and the assembly polls next year, the Karnataka development model would be the topic of discussion,” Siddaramaiah said.
Hitting back at Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the Modi wave was being discussed because of the NDA government’s good works and Congress was in an illusion about its victory in the by-elections. Listing schemes which he claimed indicated the inclusive nature of his government, Siddaramaiah said, “We are always for inclusive growth and social justice. BJP is deceiving itself by making allegations against us,” he added.
He said his government had fulfilled more than 90 per cent of the 165 promises made by Congress in its poll manifesto and would try to implement others before the end of its tenure. He also chided the BJP for criticising the budget presented by him on March 15 as “Ahinda budget” (Ahinda-a Kannada acronym for backward classes, Dalits and minorities). “I have no problem over being called pro-Ahinda, but we are not just restricted to it. We are committed to social justice and believe in inclusive growth,” he said. Claiming that the Budget had been welcomed by people of all sections, including the media, he said it was development-oriented.
Reiterating that he was ready to waive farm loans if the central government does its bit for loans taken from nationalised banks, he said, “Our part is only 22 per cent which is loans taken by farmers from cooperative banks, the remaining 78 per cent is with nationalised banks.”
Rejecting the BJP’s criticism that his government had not followed financial discipline by borrowing more, he said it was within the parameters mentioned in the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act. Fiscal deficit had come down, while tax growth increased, he said, adding that the state’s debt was way below the national average of 22 per cent of the GDP.
Later, the House passed the Budget amid a walkout by BJP members who termed it as “anti-farmer”.