Modi wave is only in media: CM Siddaramaiah
Special interview of CM Siddaramaiah by Prakash Ramajogihalli
Political temperature is soaring in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold election campaigns for BJP. This election has changed into fight between Siddaramaiah and Modi. In a special interview with Vartha Bharati
CM Siddaramaiah speaks about the challenges he is facing from outside, as well as from inside his party.
VB: It is alleged that this time your party has decided to face election with sentimental issues like Lingayat religion, Kannada flag rather than mentioning developmental issues.
CM: Lingayat religion or Kannada flag is certainly not an issue for our election campaign. I have never mentioned these issues during election campaigns. I might have answered when some journalists like you had asked questions about the matter. Development is our main issue. The development works we have done in five years are the main issue.
It was Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, president of Veerashaiva Mahasbaha who first put forth his demand for separate religion status to Lingayata-Veerashaiva. Then after, government received many appeals on the same issue. After scrutinizing these appeals, the government has set up a committee headed by justice Nagamohan das to prepare a report on this. The decision taken by the cabinet on the basis of this report has been sent to the union government. In fact, our government has served as a post master. We have not created a new religion as oppositions claim nor have we divided a religion. Basavanna had created Lingayata religion 850 years ago against Brahmanism.
VB: Has your government fulfilled all the poll promises?
CM: Of course, we have. We made 165 promises during last election and we have fulfilled 158 promises. I am ready to provide proof if anybody challenges my claim. 6-7 promises were not being implemented due to some technical issues. Not only that we have even done what we haven’t promised. Farmers’ loan waiver, Indira Canteen, Mathrupoorna, Anila Bhagya, Pashu Bhagya, Maithri, Shoe and socks bhagya, agricultural market and others. We have introduced more than 30 programmes which were not in our election manifesto. Usually political parties use manifesto as publicity papers. But we have seen it as the government’s agenda and worked accordingly.
VB: There is allegation that the suicide rate of farmers in the state has increased in last four years?
CM: No it’s not true. The 2015-16 and 2016-17 has seen severe draught in the state. During this period many farmers ended their lives. But in later years the suicide rate has come down. The various schemes of our government have helped in reducing the suicide rate of farmers. We have waived farmer loans upto Rs. 50,000 that has benefited 22.27 lakh farmers. We are giving loans up to Three Lakh rupees without interest. The BJP government in 2008-13 had spent only Rs. 7,367 crore on agriculture sector. In five years our government has spent Rs. 19,561 crore or 256 per cent more. Schemes like Krishi Bhagya, Raitha Belaku, Savayava Bhagya, climate oriented crop insurance, soil testing programs have helped the farmers. We have granted Rs. 50,000 crore for irrigation sector in five years. I have come from a farmer’s family. I know to graze the cattle and till the land. I entered politics through Farmers Association. I am well aware about the plights of farmers. In every budget I have allotted 25 per cent of the total budget outlay. This has reduced farmers’ suicide rates in last two years.
VB: There is perception building among the public that only regional party can safeguard the interest of the state. What is your opinion?
CM: Speaking about the country, you are right. But in Karnataka the voters have never supported regional parties. Ours is not Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh or Maharashtra. The people of Karnataka have always backed national parties.
Today our Congress has become more like a regional party. BJP has become more national. Our high command had given us complete freedom in issues like Hindi forcing and state flag. This development has happened after Rahul Gandhi became the president.
VB: Your Ahinda friends of olden times are now speaking against you?
CM: I can answer if you particularly mention my Ahinda friend speaking against me. These all are conspiracies made by Sangh parivar. They make Dalits fight Dalits and backward community against their own community. Are they not distracting the Muslim voters by bringing a Muslim girl?
This kind of gimmicks might have worked 25 years ago, but not today. There was no unity between backward communities when Mandal report was implemented. Hence, they opposed it. Now the situation has changed. Today even BJP can’t raise voice against reservation. That is why they are spreading the lie.
On one hand they themselves allege that Siddaramaiah’s is a Ahinda government. And on the other, they claim that Ahinda people are against Siddaramaiah. People are intelligent. They know everything.
VB: What is stand on Dalit Chief Minister?
CM: I am the one among the people who support a Dalit CM. It is only Congress party that can make a Dalit, a chief minister or a prime minister. But here the concern about Dalits is not the reason behind raising voice for Dalit CM. They just want create rift between us. I am Dalit, not by birth, but I have grown as their son. That is why I introduced revolutionary SCSP and TSP act. We have spent 24 per cent of total outlay of budget towards the development of SC/ST. Rs. 84,000 crore has been spent in four years under this scheme. Union government has allotted only Rs. 52,000 crore in its budget.
VB: You have done a lot for minority community. But there is a opinion that there is no fundamental changes in the living condition of them. What is your take?
CM: I don’t completely agree with you. Though development hasn’t happened in expected way Muslim community has reformed a lot. Today we can see representatives from Muslim community in various fields of the society. An educated young generation of Muslim community is actively participating in society building. I will give some examples for this. During our government the number of students getting metric and merit cum means scholarships has increased from 5.5 lakh to 14 lakh. We have given away Rs. 1,606 crore in five years as scholarship.
Earlier only 20 students used to get Rupees twenty lakh scholarship for studying abroad. Now the number has reached to 400. Minority students studying technical and medical courses are given special support through Arivu scheme. 78,536 students have benefitted from this scheme. Earlier there were 124 hostels for pre metric and post metric students. In last four years 190 new hostels have been built which has benefited 18,000 students. Earlier there were 47 minority Morarji Desai residential schools, 3 pre university colleges. In last four years 82 new residential schools have been opened in which 25,000 students study. Other than that, 20 Morarji Desai schools, 5 pre university colleges, 2 model residential schools were also opened. Along with this, 25 students’ hostels, 10 hostels for working women, 4 B.Ed and D.Ed English medium girls’ residential school and college and resource centre will be opened.
We have decided to give rupees two lakh to minority students studying in MMI, IIT, IIST and other prestigious higher education institutions. The reason to explain this is that when the issue of minority development is raised opposition claim that we are doing appeasing politics. Do you find any appeasement is above said programs? We are trying to bring an educationally, financially backward community to into the mainstream and provide equal opportunity to them. Is this appeasement?
We are working hard to form special programs for minorities under skill development scheme and implement it. We have decided to implement Rs. 800 crore project to provide basic amenities to minority dominated places. All these programs have certainly created educational awareness among the minorities. As I said there is a tremendous opportunity for minority students to get education and the community is using it aptly. Our projects will be meaningful as the awareness in the community increases. My concern is, people who think that shadi bhagya and shadi mahal are the only minority welfare programs of the government doesn’t know about all these above said programs. Hence, more positive debates have to be done in this regard.
VB: Do you fear that Modi wave might affect the election result?
CM: Narendra Modi wave is in media only. During last assembly election PM Modi had campaigned in 19 constituencies out of which BJP managed to win only four seats. Congress has bagged 13 seats. People had an illusion of Gujarat model then. But now there is no illusion. Frankly speaking Modi is a burden to BJP, not an asset. Because, there is anti Modi wave in the centre that will definitely affect BJP in the state. Whatever Modi may say, but when people see him they quickly remember about Rs. Fifteen lakh, two crore employments, demonetization crisis, Bank blunders etc. Media has reported how speeches of Modi boomeranged him.
VB: When you came to power you had said that you will not fight elections anymore. What is the reason behind change in your stand?
CM: Yes, I had said that that was last election. But when our party came to power BJP started shouting that they will make state congress free. That is why changed my stand. I decided to fight election and bring our party to power for the second time. Rahul Gandhi too suggested me to compete to avoid oppositions from taunting me.
VB: There was a call for unity among secular parties. But there is a allegation that congress has not shown any interest in this matter. Will this affect congress?
CM: I too agree that secular forces must unite. Congress is doing it in national level. This is assembly election and there is a stiff fight between congress and BJP. There is also JDS which is trying to be a king maker. Earlier JDS had joined hands with BJP to come it into power. We cannot trust JDS. We are supporting Raitha Sangha in Pandavapura.
VB: Government has failed in controlling communal clashes in coastal and north Karnataka?
CM: I don’t agree with you completely. In last five years even after sangh parivar’s conspiracies there were no major communal clashes in the region. If you analyze last five years then you will understand our efforts. A little more effort from our side and the back bone of communal forces would have been broken forever. Problem is, they have fed the brains of lower grade staff of our police department with communal thinking. We can transfer the higher officers but controlling lower grade staff is very difficult. It’s not their fault. They are not highly educated; hence easily fall prey to these kind of thins.
VB: Tell us about things that satisfied in these five years of ruling?
CM: As a Chief Minister every project and scheme of our government has satisfied me. But Ann Bhagya scheme that provided food to needy people is one that in am more satisfied with. If I want my developments to be balanced and for all then not a single citizen of this state should suffer from hunger. Ksheera Bhagya, ksheera dhaare, Krishi pits, Vidya siri, mathru poorna projects also brought me satisfaction.
VB: Everyone has joined hands to defeat you in Chamundeshwari. Are you afraid?
CM: I will win both Chamundeshwari and Badami. Don’t have any doubts about that. They have united, but people know the reason for that. They have united not for people but to defeat me for being pro people. What people will gain from this? I know each and every house of Chamundeshwari and I am sure that they will not abandon me. The MLA and workers of Uttara Kannada urged me to contest from Badami. They had opined that my candidature from Badami would affect the surrounding areas and help congress win more seats. High command also suggested me to contest from two places. This not new. Kumaraswamy has contested from two assembly seats. Even Narendra Modi contested in two Lok sabha seats.
VB: What are the main issues you will take up in this election?
CM: We are contesting this election by putting forth government’s achievements. I believe that almost every projects and schemes of our government has reached its beneficiaries. We have worked for people for five years and now we are asking for returns. The people who are feeding, drinking milk, who have bought medicine, got shelter, education and employment through our schemes will not turn their back to congress, I hope.
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Make polling hours 6am-7pm for May 7 LS polls, Karnataka BJP urges EC citing heatwave
Bengaluru, May 3: Citing the ongoing heatwave in the state, Karnataka BJP on Friday petitioned the Election Commission with a request to modify the polling hours to the 6am-7pm period in the 14 parliamentary constituencies in the state that goes to polls on May 7.
Polling is currently scheduled to be held in the second phase in the state in 14 segments in the northern districts between 7am to 6pm on May 7.
"It has become hard to come out and vote between hours 10.00 to 17.00 due to uncontrollable heat. The average heat in those parts (north Karnataka) covering 14 parliamentary constituencies are between 37 and 42 degree (Celsius). The mercury is rising at an alarming level and it would become hard for the electors to come out and vote," BJP's petition said.
The petition highlighted the alarming rise in temperatures, which are expected to go beyond 40 degree Celsius, and also stated that the number of voters over the age of 40 is high and that they are vulnerable to the heatwave.
"To keep up the good spirit of voting, necessary action should be taken," the BJP petition urged the Election Commission, saying, "In this background, it is requested to modify the time of voting in the 14 parliamentary constituencies from 06.00 to 19.00 hours on May 7".
Polling was held between 7 am and 6 pm during Karnataka's first phase of the Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies on April 26.
