The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, recently made a bold statement, asserting that there is no need for his state or party to take lessons in patriotism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This declaration came amidst discussions in the Karnataka Assembly, where Siddaramaiah pointed out the historical absence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP from India’s freedom struggle. He emphasized that key figures from the Sangh Parivar, including Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and MS Golwalkar, did not participate in the movement for India’s independence. According to him, it is the BJP that is causing division within the country and society by exploiting religious differences.
The Chief Minister confidently predicted that the electorate would reject the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, criticizing the party’s slogan “Sab ka saath sab ka vikas” as mere rhetoric. Siddaramaiah contrasted his administration with the preceding BJP government, accusing it of corruption and failure to promote progress. He highlighted the Congress government’s achievements, mentioning the implementation of various guarantee schemes alongside developmental programs.
During his address, Siddaramaiah presented a comparison of the budgets, noting that while his predecessor, Basavaraja Bommai, announced a budget of approximately Rs 3.09 lakh crore in 2023, the budget he proposed for 2024-25 significantly exceeds this, amounting to Rs 3,71,343 crore. He criticized the previous BJP government for its lack of development initiatives, asserting that his administration has successfully combined development with the introduction of guarantee schemes, showcasing a stark contrast between the governance styles of the Congress and the BJP. The session of the Karnataka budget commenced on February 12, setting the stage for these discussions and declarations.