Siddaramaiah government is not alive for farmers: Former Karnataka CM Bommai

Hubballi (Karnataka) [India], October 7 (ANI): Referring to the management of the drought situation by the Siddaramaiah government, Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the current attitude of the Congress government shows that it is not alive to the problems of the farmers.
"It has been three months of drought set in in Karnataka and farmers were distressed due to the withering of the khariff crops. Despite all this, the incumbent government had not released for drought till now. No action has been taken so far for the problem of drinking water. The state government was unnecessarily pointing at the center. The state government already has a disaster relief fund. Release it immediately, then take it from the center and we will be with you," he said.
Bommai said during the BJP regime unprecedented floods affected several districts and it did not wait for the center.
"It was in such a crisis that the government had to show that it was alive. But looking at the attitude, it was evident that the present Congress Government was not alive to farmers. "
"I would like to tell the Chief Minister that the statement will not solve the drought. So far no funds have been released for the development. Funds have not been released for hospital, school, and road maintenance. Unfortunately, Karnataka has reached such a bad state of affairs," he added.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to respond to the questions posed by veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa over the Lingayat community negligence, who is also the President of Akhila Bharath Veerashaiva Mahasabha.
He said that any further delay in the Lingayat controversy will have a bad impact on administration.
"The shadow of caste on the administration is not a good sign," he said while talking to reporters.
Bommai stressed that any further delay in addressing these questions could negatively impact the administration, and the shadow of caste-based issues affecting governance is not a positive sign.
Party had been creating one or the other problems, and a lot of resentment had been created on the transfer issue. They promised social justice for all but now it was not happening. The CM owes a reply to the questions raised by Shamanur Shivashankarappa and till he replies it would affect the administration. Siddaramaiah would get a bad name as long as he continued in the post of chief minister."
Earlier Shamanuru Shivashankarappa had said that since Lingayat formed the largest community in Karnataka there should be a CM representing this community.
Responding to queries about the release of the caste census report by the State government, Bommai clarified that the census conducted in 2014-15 was focused on studying the social and economic conditions of the people and was not a caste census.
Asked about the release of the caste census report by the State government, Bommai said, "The census of the study of social and economic condition of the people had been ordered in 2014-15, and nowhere it was told to do the caste census. This was not the caste census."
Bommai also criticized the Congress government's handling of law and order, alleging that anti-social elements were being emboldened and not held accountable. He pointed out incidents in Kolar City and during the Id Milad procession and questioned why adequate security measures were not taken.
He further said, "Whenever the Congress came to power, they have not been able to rule effectively. A message had been given to the police not to touch a community because of which there was no fear of law, police, or the government for the anti-social elements. An incident had occurred in Kolar City and taking note of the same an elaborate security should have been made by the Shivamogga police."
He asked why fool-proof security was not made during the Id Milad procession. The anti-social elements were being instigated after the Congress Party came to power in the State, he said.
Bommai said during the BJP regime unprecedented floods affected several districts but they did not wait for the Centre. "It was in such a crisis that the government had to show that it was alive," he said.
He further said, "Looking at the attitude, it was evident that the present Congress Government was not alive for the farmers. I would like to tell the Chief Minister that the statement will not solve the drought. So far no funds have been released for the development. Funds have not been released for hospital, school, and road maintenance. Unfortunately, Karnataka has reached such a bad state of affairs".
The former CM further said that the government was flouting the Excise rules and acting to its whims and fancies.
"While the CM ruled out giving fresh bar licenses, the deputy chief minister favoured opening the new bar in strategic places. This issue has become a den of confusion. The resolutions made by the CM were being opposed by his deputy. In total, this government would not do anything good for the people," he added. (ANI)