HAVERI: Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai challenged AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to win at least 50 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a party workers’ meeting in Hangal in Haveri Lok Sabha constituency here on Sunday, Bommai said the state government has diverted the money earmarked for farmers to guarantees.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah makes lengthy speeches. The CM said he will make the caste census report public. Did he do it? The Kantharaj Commission report has been accepted, and people knew that it had been accepted for political gain in view of the polls. But members of the upper castes have opposed the report, which will never be published. The government has been playing hide and seek with regard to the caste issue,” he said.
Bommai said it was he who had hiked reservation for SCs and STs. “In a democracy, they can cheat people once, but not always. The BJP too has been in favour of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. The government has released money to 57 lakh farmers in Karnataka, to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore. The Congress talks of the Anna Bhagya scheme, but has not distributed a single grain of rice to people.
The Centre has been giving 5 kg rice to 1 crore families, while 11 lakh houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Drinking water has been supplied to over 30 lakh households. National Highways had been developed at a rapid pace. The Congress has promised Rs 1 lakh for each woman every year. The guarantees by the Congress are bogus and the party is not sure of even coming back to power, while the BJP will win in more than 400 constituencies,” he said.
Former minister CM Udasi has done a lot for Hangal taluk and his work would continue, he said. Stating that there has been zero development in the state, Bommai alleged that Congress leaders and MLAs are scared to go before people.
“No schemes have been drawn with regard to severe drought. Over 800 farmers have ended their lives, and most of their families haven’t received compensation. People will give a befitting reply to the Congress in the coming elections. Borrowing Rs 1.5 lakh crore has been the biggest achievement of Siddaramaiah. The people will make Narendra Modi the PM for a third time,” he said.
Confident party seniors will convince KSE: Bommai
Hubballi: Referring to the recent development of veteran BJP leader KS Eshwarappa intending to contest for the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat as an independent, former CM Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said the party’s national leaders are in touch with him. “Our national leaders are talking to Eshwarappa, and he will be convinced against taking any drastic decision,” opined Bommai. Reacting to BJP colleague Ramesh Jarkiholi’s statement on the change of his constituency, Bommai said the former may be in touch with the high command. “But I don’t know what Ramesh has said about the change in the constituency. Today, I am campaigning in Shiggaon, which comes under Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency and sitting MP Pralhad Joshi has invited me. This time, Joshi will be given more lead from Shiggaon. The following day, I will be visiting Gadag district that comes under the Haveri Lok Sabha constituency,” Bommai said. ENS