Calling BJP MPs from the State “hypocrites shedding crocodile tears for farmers”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that these MPs have not taken up the issue of farm loan waiver with the Prime Minister but only talk about doing so at public meetings.
Addressing the government’s ‘Sadhana Samevesha’ (achievements’ rally) here on Tuesday, he said that while the State government waived off agriculture loans up to ₹50,000 borrowed by farmers from the cooperative banks, the Union government refused to waive off farm loans from nationalized banks.
“If the BJP leaders are genuinely concerned for the farmers, let them go and convince the Prime Minister to waive off farm loans instead of only rendering lip service here,” the CM said.Questioning where were the ‘acche din’ (good days), promised by the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections, he said that the BJP only lied to the people and created a communal divide in society.
“The BJP had promised to bring back black money stashed in the foreign banks and distributed ₹15 lakh to each citizen, but even today the citizens are waiting for the money. After the BJP government came to power, the prices of essential commodities and petrol have risen too high making the life of common people miserable,” he remarked.
Taking a jibe at the BJP on its ‘Mission 150’ to win at least 150 seats in the next Assembly election in the State, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that mission has reduced to mere 50 now.
Taking exception to the provocative speeches of BJP MP Ananta Kumar Hegde, the Chief Minister said that such a person was unfit to become a Minister in the Union government as he was creating communal tension in the State.
Claiming that the Congress has given a pro-people government by meeting 155 promises, he exuded the confidence of coming to power again in the next Assembly election. He said that soon ‘Arogya Bhagya’ – a Universal Health Scheme – would be rolled out which would provide free medical cover to all citizens of the State in government and private hospitals.
Minister R.B. Timmapur; Siddu Nyamgouda, MLA; S.R. Pati, MLC; and other Congress leaders were present.
