Bengaluru : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the Union Budget, calling it “disappointing” and “anti-people.” He expressed dissatisfaction, stating that Karnataka had been neglected and likened the budget allocation to an “empty vessel” for the state. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister and a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, was expected to safeguard the state’s interests, which the Chief Minister felt had not been fulfilled.
Siddaramaiah highlighted special grants to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, suggesting political considerations influenced these decisions, unlike southern states like Karnataka which received minimal support. He lamented that despite having several union ministers from Karnataka, including Sitharaman and HD Kumaraswamy, the state received no substantial allocations. Specific projects such as the Bengaluru-Hyderabad corridor and funds for the Upper Bhadra Project were not addressed as expected.
The Chief Minister further pointed out that crucial Karnataka projects like Mahadayi, Mekedatu, and Upper Krishna were overlooked in the budget, despite the state’s requests. Additionally, proposed developments such as the peripheral ring road in Bengaluru and the establishment of an AIIMS unit in Raichur did not receive promised funding.
In summary, Siddaramaiah emphasized his disappointment with the Union Budget, asserting that it fell short of meeting Karnataka’s developmental needs and expectations.