Anna Bhagya scheme introduced to alleviate starvation: Ex-CM Siddaramaiah
“I don’t worry about defeat, but it’s haunting me”
Mysuru, June 12: “I don’t worry about the defeat. But it is haunting me as to why I was defeated despite so much of development works”, said former chief minister Siddaramaiah.
Speaking at a thanks giving programme for the voters of the Varuna Assembly constituency here on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said that “I don’t worry about the defeat. Victory and defeat is common in democracy. I would accept both defeat and victory equally. But I could not understand as to why people have not accepted me despite achieving development in many sectors. They might have considered the small issues. But I am contended for what I have given for the financial empowerment of the poor, dalits, backward classes and farmers”, he said.
“What mentality I had when I started my political career, the same mentality I had when I was the Chief Minister. Till now, I have the same mentality. In my 40 years political career, I have seen both defeat and victory. I have said I would not contest the election again. But I would work for my supporters and followers”, he said.
“I accept the people’s verdict. The people had defeated Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi. When look at the history, good people face difficult situation. People of the state are like our family. People have false propaganda against me as I am anti-Hindu and have divided Lingayat community. I have never divided the Lingayat community. Basavanna had called Lingayat as a separate religion around 800 years ago. I have just recommended it to the centre. I am not against any caste. But I have belief in human relationship and humanity. Even then, I was targeted”, he said.
“I have introduced an ambitious programme like Anna Bhagya with a concept of making Karnataka hunger-free to ensure that no person should sleep without food. Anna Bhagya, Manasvini, Mythri, Krishi Bhagya, waiver off farm loans, Vidya Siri, nutritious food for pregnant women, Ksheera Bhagya, free education for girl children from primary education to higher education, laptops, free bus pass, 50 per cent reservation for SC/ST in contracts and other programmes were introduced. I have tried to empower SC/ST communities financially. I have not done all these for votes. I have done this for the welfare of the people”, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks as ‘Bhaiyo aur behno’. Yeddyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje bring food from hotels and have it in the houses of dalits saying that ‘BJP nadige Dalitara Mane Kadege’. As to why the BJP, who claim that the ration for the Anna Bhagya is being given from the Centre, has not introduced Anna Bhagya in BJP ruling states like Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states? It was his dream. So, he had introduced it in Karnataka, he said.
BJP people are bluffs. They do not want development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come to state and lied. Amith Shah did the same. People did not give clear mandate to any political party. Though BJP has emerged as the single largest party, the Congress has got more per cent of vote sharing. BJP has got more seats, but less votes. But the Congress got more votes and less seats. This is the beauty of the democracy, the former chief minister analysed.
The BJP bite the dust in the by-elections held in other parts of the country. In 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Congress would get majority and Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister, he exuded confidence.
I’m indebted to Varuna constituency people
“Voters of Varuna constituency have elected Dr Yatindra Siddaramaiah with a huge margin of 58,000 votes. Thank you for your concerns. I have cleared some of your obligation. But now, it is increased again. My son and I would serve you people forever”, he said.
People force to become PM
The people gathered there were seen shouting throughout the programme that Siddaramaiah should contest the Lok Sabha election and become the Prime Minister.
Varuna MLA Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah presided over the programme in which Minister Puttaranga Shetty, MP Druvanarayan, MLCs R Dharmasena and Ivan D’Souza, former MLA MK Somashekar and others were present.
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'Ab kya hoga, ye rab jane...': Tharoor takes dig at failed US-Iran talks in Pakistan
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New Delhi (PTI): Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday took a swipe at the "failed" US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan with an Urdu couplet, saying only god knows now what will happen.
"Ab kya hoga, ye rab jane; Na woh mane, na ye mane (only god knows what will happen now as both sides did not agree)," Tharoor said on X, tagging a post-talks video clip of US Vice President J D Vance, who led the American delegation at the negotiations in Islamabad.
The United States and Iran failed to reach a peace deal at their historic 21-hour talks in Pakistan, leaving the fate of a tenuous two-week ceasefire in doubt, with both sides attempting to hold each other responsible for the collapse of the negotiations.
अब क्या होगा, ये रब जाने
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 13, 2026
ना वो माने, ना ये माने https://t.co/DYrXpa7C8h
Vance said the Iranian side did not accept Washington's terms for ending the war even as the US presented its "final and best offer".
Hours after the talks collapsed, US President Donald Trump said on social media that the negotiations with Tehran failed as "Iran is unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions".
Trump said the US Navy will actively interdict any vessel in international waters found to have paid tolls to Iran for transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the head of the Iranian negotiation team, said it is for the US to decide whether it can "earn our trust or not".
The Iranian foreign ministry, without elaborating, said the US side resorted to "excessive" and "illegal demands".
The failure to reach an agreement has dimmed the prospect of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to stabilise the global energy marke
