Karnataka Budget 2023: JDS says budget fails to address people's wishes
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal-Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy has come down heavy on the state budget, terming it a cut-and-paste budget without any substantial and meaningful budgetary provisions for critical areas such as irrigation infrastructure and power. At the same time, Kumaraswamy seemed to endorse Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in his comments.
Follow"Budget size has been increased in order to avail loan of Rs 85,000 crores, but Siddaramaiah has not made it clear as to how he is going to make provision for repaying this loan. It is more accurate to refer to it as a BJP insult book rather than a state budget document. After the BJP came to power, the central government and the previous government were accused of breaking economic discipline and purposely undermining economic discipline. Rather than emphasising their vision and programmes, the budget has been utilised to mock other parties, and criticise the central government for treating them unfairly," he said.
"The Irrigation Department was granted permission for projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore during the reign of Basavaraja Bommai. It now includes an additional Rs 40,000 crore. Without a deposit, projects worth Rs 1.75 lakh crore have been announced. They claimed to have built 15 lakh residences between 2013 and 2018. Where have they been constructed? They stated that they require Rs 17,815 crore to construct 12 lakh houses. What is the source of the funds," Kumaraswamy asked.
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"This time, a budget of Rs 3.28 lakh has been set aside for revenue spending and Rs 27,000 crore for loan payback. On top of that, Rs 85,000 crore would be raised. Who is responsible for that debt," the JD-S leader sought to know.
Throughout the budget, Siddaramaiah stated that the previous government had destroyed budgetary discipline. This, according to Kumaraswamy, is not true.
"The relationship between the central government and the state governments should be positive. It is not helpful to argue about resources, grants, development, and so on. It is damaging for the state if every time the Congress government makes false accusations and complains about the central government. Congress should trust the Centre. That way it will be favourable to the state." Kumarswamy said while criticising the budget for failing to address what the people genuinely seek.
