Amid the allegation of misuse of Rs 35,000 crore mentioned in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, the BJP accused former CM Siddaramaiah of taking the escape route fearing backlash from the BJP during the Belagavi winter session. The BJP says that if a case can be filed on former CM Yeddyurappa following the feature of his name in an earlier CAG report, why not to provide the same treatment to Siddaramaiah under whose tenure the alleged misuse of public funds took place?
Bengaluru: The ten-day winter session at Belagavi started with protests from the BJP and sugarcane farmers in Belagavi as the opposition demanded that former CM Siddaramaiah give an explanation to the alleged misuse of Rs 35,000 crore of public funds mentioned in CAG report. They demanded CM HD Kumaraswamy to commit on loan waiver to farmers and help sugarcane farmers.
The BJP used the issue of the absence of Siddaramaiah whom they accused of escaping to Singapore during the winter session on the pretext of attending a wedding.
"The former CM had also held a finance portfolio and the misuse of public funds is a serious issue which took place during his rule. Instead of giving an explanation, he is enjoying a tour of Singapore. Looks like there is something fishy that the former CM wants to hide," said BJP Spokesperson Ashwath Narayan.
The BJP is demanding that CM HD Kumaraswamy also take stern steps and order a probe into the matter. "When the government can book a case against the former CM BS Yeddyurappa as his name was mentioned in the CAG report, why not consider the same decision in this case. Rs 35,000 crores was spent on an unwanted project and there was misuse of public funds. CM Siddaramaiah should be held responsible." stressed Ashwath Narayan.
Lashing out at the BJP for adding 'motives' to CM Siddaramaiah's foreign visit, the Congress camp replied saying that they need not reply to any questions of this sort from the BJP as they expect the BJP to come out with clarity on 'Rafale' deal.
"Siddaramaiah’s foreign trip was planned well in advance and it is not that he will be absent for the entire session, he will be back in two days and will give the BJP a fitting reply. The BJP should answer the questions raised by HAL employees as to why the BJP cheated them, then we will answer their questions raised on the misuse of Rs 35,000 crores mentioned in the CAG report," said, Kengal Renu, Congress spokesperson.
The JD(S) used this situation to project itself as pro-farmers and pro-people government. The JD(S) leaders say that it is willing to discuss people’s problems in the session and offer solutions but the fight between the BJP and the Congress is hampering the winter session. Going one step ahead in attacking the BJP, the JD(S) leaders called the BJP as a 'mad people's party' lead by a mad leader, Yeddyurappa.
"They do not want any issue to be discussed in the session like gentlemen and class politicians. From the Rs 35,000 crore fund report in CAG to the farm loan waiver to helping sugarcane farmers, we want to solve matters, but the BJP sits on the street and blocks development," said, R Prakash, JD(S) leader.
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