Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reaffirmed the strength and stability of the Congress-led government in the state on Monday, dismissing criticisms from the opposition BJP. In a statement aimed at BJP leaders, Siddaramaiah accused them of intellectual bankruptcy rather than the state facing any such issue.
Responding to BJP’s claims about the state going bankrupt due to a Rs 10,000 crore loan in the April-June quarter of the previous year, Siddaramaiah urged them to examine the debt records of the previous BJP government’s tenure. He alleged that during the financial years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23, significant loans were taken, with Rs 84,528 crore, Rs 67,332 crore, and Rs 72,000 crore borrowed respectively.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that the responsibility to repay these debts now falls on the current government. He questioned BJP’s allegations against his government, highlighting the substantial increase in the state’s debt from Rs 2.42 lakh crore until 2018 to Rs 5.40 lakh crore in the subsequent five years.
Further criticizing the BJP, Siddaramaiah accused them of diverting attention from governance and development issues by focusing on divisive tactics such as Hindu-Muslim rhetoric. He emphasized that the people of Karnataka are aware of the truth and will respond accordingly in the upcoming elections.
Siddaramaiah concluded by asserting that it is time for BJP Karnataka to introspect and inform the public about the party responsible for the surge in debt, rather than indulging in divisive politics.
