Karnataka developed as a model State under Congress rule: CM

Comparing Karnataka with the rest of India in general and Gujarat in particular on different parameters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that the State had emerged as a role model by achieving remarkable development and transparent governance in the current term of the Congress rule. He was speaking at a huge public gathering at Mahatma Gandhi Stadium here on Tuesday after laying the foundation stone for various projects and dedicating those completed to public use. “When we [Congress] came to power in 2013, Karnataka was at 11th position, with Gujarat on the top, in terms of attracting investments. Now, Karnataka rose to occupy the first place with an annual investment of Rs. 1.50 lakh crore as compared to Gujarat’s Rs. 40,000 crore. It is because of our development, infrastructure and transparency in governance that we became the most-preferred investment destination in the country. We are the leading State in terms of silk production, Information Technology and Bio-Technology. Our public transport system is well recognised and appreciated with 207 national and international awards. Karnataka’s GDP growth is impressive at 8.5% as compared to national average of 7.1%. Household electrification has crossed 98% in Karnataka as compared to the national average of 88%. We are the only State in the country to give 7 kg rice free of cost to each of 3.85 crore people every month. Gujarat is nowhere near us in terms of development and it is Karnataka that has become a role model to others,” he said. Mr. Siddaramaiah came down heavily on BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah and party’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the State B.S. Yeddyurappa on the issue of corruption. “When Mr. Modi came to Bengaluru recently, I had expected that he would announce waiver of farm loans [borrowed from nationalised banks] and give a solution to Mahadayi dispute. Contrary to my expectations, he, however, baselessly alleged that ours was a 10% commission government. I countered his allegations by claiming that theirs was 90% commission government. Now, I would like to correct it to say that it was 100% commission government,” he said adding that a number of Ministers and BJP leaders, including Mr. Yeddyurappa, had landed in jail for corruption. Referring to Mr. Shah’s recent allegations of corruption against the State government, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that neither he nor his party leader had any moral right to criticise the Congress-led State government. “The value of the assets of a company owned by Mr. Shah’s son Jay Shah grew from Rs. 50,000 crore to Rs. 80 crore within a year. Mr. Shah is a man who was arrested on charges of murder and put in jail. Now, he is teaching us on corruption. We are proud to say that we gave stable, transparent, clean and corruption-free governance,” he said. Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Transport Minister H.M. Revanna and other party leaders were present. Source: The Hindu