"No drought relief given, our demands not met:" BJP's R Ashoka slams Congress govt, alleges no drought relief given to farmers
BJP Leader of Opposition R Ashoka accuses the Congress government of insulting farmers with paltry drought compensation while increasing state debt.
SLUG: r-ashoka-slams-congress-karnataka-drought-relief FOCUS: BJP R Ashoka drought relief SEO_TITLE: R Ashoka Slams Congress Over Karnataka Drought Relief SEO_DESC: BJP Leader of Opposition R Ashoka accuses the Congress government of insulting farmers with paltry drought compensation while increasing state debt. TAGS: India News, Karnataka, Politics, India SLUG: r-ashoka-slams-congress-karnataka-drought-relief
"No drought relief given, our demands not met:" BJP's R Ashoka slams Congress govt
In a scathing attack on the ruling administration, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka, has accused the Congress government of failing the state's farming community. Speaking at a press conference, the BJP leader alleged that the government is attempting to evade its responsibilities by providing what he termed "paltry compensation" to those suffering from severe drought conditions.
Insult to Farmers: ₹2,500 vs ₹25,000
R Ashoka expressed outrage over the compensation package announced by the Siddaramaiah–D.K. Shivakumar government. While the opposition had demanded a minimum relief of ₹25,000 per acre, the government instead announced a payment of just ₹2,500 for 50 lakh families. Ashoka described this amount as an insult to the farmers who have been driven to the brink of death by the ongoing crisis.
The Leader of Opposition highlighted several critical issues currently plaguing the state, including:
- Water Scarcity: Severe drinking-water shortages have already begun in the Cauvery catchment area.
- Livestock Crisis: A lack of water is leaving cattle without adequate resources.
- Power Issues: Frequent load-shedding is being imposed, further straining the lives of citizens and the state treasury.
Allegations of Mismanaged Funds
The BJP leader leveled serious allegations regarding the state's financial priorities. He claimed that while farmers are being given "alms" and "spare change," thousands of crores are being diverted to guarantee committees and various political initiatives. Ashoka specifically mentioned that ₹1,110 crore is being spent on Bharat Jodo committees and significant funds are being utilized for opening gruel centres and supporting Congress party personnel.
Furthermore, Ashoka criticized the government for not consulting the opposition before deciding to write to the Centre regarding the drought situation. He stated that while the government invited the opposition to join a delegation to the Centre, they had failed to discuss the actual demands or the severity of the drought with them first, accusing the administration of playing politics.
A Growing Debt Burden
A significant portion of Ashoka's critique focused on the escalating state debt. He provided a detailed breakdown of borrowings under various Chief Ministerial tenures to illustrate a growing financial crisis. According to his figures, the state's total outstanding debt stands at ₹8,34,677 crore.
Ashoka's breakdown of the debt attributed to different regimes included:
- Congress Regimes: ₹5,66,970 crore
- BJP Tenures: ₹2,62,000 crore
- JD(S) Tenure: ₹5,664 crore
He specifically pointed out that under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's tenure, the state borrowed ₹4,36,803 crore, which he claimed accounts for 52.33 per cent of the total debt incurred across all tenures. He also listed the borrowing figures of former Chief Ministers, including B.S. Yediyurappa, H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Basavaraj Bommai, to argue that the current administration is pushing the state into a deep fiscal crisis.
Controversy Over NICE Project
Concluding his remarks, R Ashoka touched upon the NICE Project, alleging that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has entered into an alliance with the organization. He claimed that the project has failed to invest even a single rupee into the state, adding further fuel to the political firestorm surrounding the government's management of Karnataka's resources.