Attributing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s popularity to the “cyber army” supporting him, Jnanpith recipient U.R. Ananthamurthy on Monday suggested that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too become “cyber savvy” and harvest the electronic world.
Releasing a work on the 2013 State Budget, the writer said Mr. Modi was using cyber space to reach out to the e-literate section, which was playing a major role in improving the Gujarat Chief Minister’s popularity. The same strategy should be adopted to highlight pro-people programmes launched by Mr. Siddaramaiah, he said.
Taking a dig at those who criticised the Chief Minister for presenting a AHINDA budget, he observed that while other Chief Ministers appeased the minorities and Dalits as part of their electoral strategy, it was a social commitment for Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Prof. Ananthamurthy regretted that though Mr. Siddaramaiah wanted to reach out to a large section of society, through his programmes, he was not in a position to do so because of “systemic restrictions”.
Noting that those who knew the plight of the people in rural areas could address issues plaguing farming community, he said socialist leader Shantaveri Gopala Gowda, who grazed cattle once, could raise issues pertaining to the impoverished in the Assembly. Similarly, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who had grazed sheep in his childhood, could better address agrarian issues.
Criticising those who have totally forgotten the contribution of the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna to the midday meal scheme, he said the media only played up his plans to develop Bangalore on the lines of Singapore.
‘Reduced deficit’
Speaking on the occasion, and refuting the claims of former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa about the budget presented by him, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he brought in financial discipline, besides reducing the deficit.
On the delay in filling vacant posts of various cultural academies, he promised that appointments would be made before November 1, the Rajyotsava Day.
