Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 23 (ANI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its protests alleging a financial crisis in the state, accusing the Centre of withholding statutory grants and claiming that the Modi government had given Karnataka "only an empty box."
BJP leaders held protests at the Kengal Hanumanthaiah statue in Bengaluru earlier today, accusing the administration of financial bankruptcy, economic mismanagement, and diverting funds meant for Dalit communities.
Reacting to the protest, Kharge said Karnataka had been forced to approach the courts to secure what he described as its rightful share of central funds.
"I agree with them; there is no fund that is received from the Central Government. The Modi government has given us nothing, only an empty box. Last year also, when we asked for funds from the NDRF, which was constitutionally and legally supposed to be given, they did not give. We had to go to the Supreme Court. Only when the Supreme Court lashed out at them did they give us some amount," Kharge told reporters.
Questioning the state BJP's position on drought relief and agricultural assistance, Kharge said the declaration of drought-hit areas was governed by norms set by the Centre.
"If a taluka or a region has to be declared drought-hit, it is as per the norms of the Central Government. How come the BJP MLAs and MPs are not talking about that? According to whose laws is drought being declared by the Central Government? What is their responsibility?" he said.
Taking aim at the Centre's fiscal priorities, Kharge questioned why relief is not extended to farmers. "They are asking for a loan waiver. So why doesn't the Modi government do it? They can waive off Rs 14 lakh crore loans of big businessmen. Why can't they waive off loans of the farmers? Why are they not having any pro-farmer policy? Today, the BJP has to do the answering, not us," he added.
Addressing the Karnataka High Court's directive to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam, Kharge expressed reservations, noting that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is already conducting a thorough inquiry.
"In my personal opinion, the order that has come up asking us to form an SIT when a CID inquiry is going on is not in the best interest of the investigation. There have been no lapses from the CID, and every piece of information publicly available has been because of the investigation of the CID. Nobody has complained that there are lapses in the CID investigation, so I am not sure why such an order was passed. We are examining it legally and will take a decision this afternoon," Kharge said.
The Congress leader also took a swipe at the BJP following the Supreme Court's order regarding the national song, Vande Mataram.
"The Supreme Court’s order on Vande Mataram is a big relief to the BJP people. Because they would not have been able to sing the national anthem without looking into a mobile or a paper. You saw what happened in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, where even after giving them a printed copy, they were not able to read the last two lines or pronounce the words," Kharge claimed.
Escalating his attack on the top BJP leadership, he added, "Like I said, neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister of India can recite the national song in its entirety without looking at a piece of paper." (ANI)
"Modi govt has given us only an empty box": Priyank Kharge counters BJP's fund crunch protest in Bengaluru
