BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented a report card of his four years in power. Claiming a distinction in his performance compared to earlier regimes, Siddaramaiah gave himself a score of 95 per cent.
“Of the 165 promises made in our manifesto during the 2013 assembly poll, we have implemented 155. Which means we have scored about 95 per cent in delivering what we had promised. I will make an honest attempt to fulfil the remaining 10 promises in my budget next year,” he said, addressing the media after releasing a booklet on the achievements of his four-year-old government.
Reiterating his commitment for the welfare of the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backwards and dalits), Siddaramaiah took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. “How can they (BJP) talk about Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas by keeping Muslims and Christians out of their policies and programmes? We do not indulge in such deception,” Siddaramaiah said.
“Our policies and welfare programmes are not confined to just AHINDA. Our Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya and other welfare programmes have benefited over five crore people cutting across caste and religious barriers,” Siddaramaiah claimed.
He also hit out at the BJP, which has released a 29-point ‘chargesheet’ listing out the failures of the Congress government. “BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders have no moral right to level allegations against the state government as they themselves are facing charges of corruption. The BJP chargesheet is a bundle of lies,” he said.
Questions credibility of report on corruption
Siddaramaiah dismissed the recent report of the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), in which Karnataka has earned the ignominy of the most corrupt state as “totally false”. He questioned the credibility of CMS. “I know the people who are a part of CMS. It is headed by a Niti Aayog member. The report is baseless. It has been prepared on a sample survey of 2,000 people out of the 6.50 crore population in the state,” he said.
High Command will decide on next CM
Contrary to his recent claims of becoming the CM for the second term, he was guarded on who would be the next CM if the party is voted to power. “It will be decided by the High Command,” he said.
CM to launch skill development portal
On Monday, the CM will dedicate www.kaushalkar.com, a web portal where unemployed people can register to get training in various skills. Hundreds of skill development programmes will be listed in the portal. Free special camps will be held at all taluks and at district employment exchanges. After May 22, registration will be done only at district employment exchanges.