The BJP has warned the Siddaramaiah Government on the fulfillment of “five guarantees” in the state with veteran party leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday announcing ‘Satyagraha’ both inside and outside the Assembly, if the dispensation fails to implement poll-promises before July three when the new Legislature is to begin its session.
BJP has maintained that barring ‘free-ride” to women in the state buses , the Congress has failed to implement other four guarantees it promised to the voters of Karnataka. The opposition party is expected to intensify its protest with an eye on the Lok Sabha poll which is barely 10-11 months away. Karnataka sends 28 MPs to the Lok Sabha.
Yediyurappa also hit out at the Chief Minister and his government for “unnecessarily blaming” the Centre regarding the supply of rice for the State’s “Anna Bhagya” scheme, calling it an “unpardonable offence” and “betrayal to the people”. “Purposefully, attempts are being made by Siddaramaiah (CM) and Shivakumar (DCM) to point fingers at the Centre with regards to rice. Central Government is already giving 5 kgs of rice for free. If they want to give additional quantities of rice, the state government should purchase rice to make arrangements for its supply; instead they are making false promises,” Yediyurappa said in Davangere in central Karnataka..
The former Chief Minister warned the Congress government in Karnataka that his party will stage ‘Satyagraha’ (protests) both inside and outside the Assembly, if it fails to implement the five poll guarantees before the Legislature session, and asked it to quit, if not able to fulfill the promises.
“Implementing guarantees will lead to shortage of funds for developmental activities. There are already protests against the raise in power tariff. Congress is in a way enjoying power by troubling the people. I condemn it. People will respond to it,” he said. The former Chief Minister said he too will stage demonstrations in front of ‘Vidhana Soudha’, the seats of state Legislature and Secretariat in Bengaluru. He said the Congress had given five poll promises, among them only the free bus service scheme for women has been launched and it is operational, amid a lot of hindrances.
“If the other four guarantees are not implemented before the Assembly session begins, it will be inevitable for us to stage ‘Satyagraha’ inside and outside the House (Assembly). I’m also ready to stage a ‘dharna’ (demonstration) in front of Vidhans Soudha. So immediately they (Congress) should fulfill their poll guarantees,” he added.
The new Karnataka Legislature Session is scheduled from July 3 to 14, which will also see the new government tabling a fresh budget. The BJP agitations will be planned by the party legislators and leaders, and every one of them will be participating in it, Yediyurappa said.