Nero fiddling while Rome burns: HD Kumaraswamy attacks CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday took a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleging that he was behaving like the Roman emperor Nero at a time when the people of the state are suffering from drought.
Siddaramaiah government seems to be making a mockery of the drought situation in the state and the sufferings of the people, the former chief minister said, as he accused it of being immersed in “campaign fairs” by holding conventions using taxpayers money.
“There is a drought, unheard of in the history of the state. Water scarcity has worsened. People and cattle are suffering to get water. Despite this situation, the Congress government is spending crores of rupees of taxpayers money into guarantee conventions. Shame,” Kumaraswamy said in a statement.
“Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Siddaramaiah you are our Nero. Zero for the state. You are not worried about the people, you are only worried about the election,” he said, adding that the people of the state would ensure that this “election worry” becomes detrimental to the Congress party and its government.
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The ruling Congress, banking on its implementation of five ‘guarantee’ schemes to garner votes in the Lok Sabha polls in the state, is holding a series of ‘Guarantee Samaveshas (conventions)’. One such meeting is being held in Mandya today.
Alleging that the government does not have Rs 2,000 to give to each drought-affected farmer, but there is enough money to hold guarantee conventions, the state JD(S) chief asked, “What kind of Siddanomics (term earlier coined to describe Siddaramaiah’s approach towards the state finances) is this, Mr Siddaramaiah?”
Questioning the many “thousands of crores” that have allegedly been spent on these guarantee conventions and advertising in almost a year, he urged the government to be accountable to the people.
“If necessary, issue a White Paper on the amount spent for propaganda on guarantee schemes and conventions,” he said, as he insisted that people should know the truth.
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Bengal: Hundreds stage protest over 'threats' by TMC workers
Kolkata (PTI): Demanding safety after counting of votes, hundreds of villagers staged a protest in Falta in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, alleging they were receiving life threats from TMC workers in the area.
The protesters, many of them women and holding BJP flags, blocked the road in Hasimnagar village, alleging that local panchayat pradhan Israfil, a close associate of TMC candidate Jehangir Khan, issued them threats of attacks after poll results are announced.
The CRPF deputy commandant visited the area with a large force and assured the demonstrators of ensuring their safety.
Khan dismissed the allegations and said the women were "deployed" by the BJP to stage the demonstration and engineer the arrest of TMC functionaries in the area before the counting to "harm the morale of the TMC supporters".
"If the charges are proved, I am ready to face the law," he said.
Fatima Bibi, one of the protesters belonging to the BJP's Mahila Morcha, claimed Israfil and his men "have been visiting the area since April 30 and threatening us that there would be bloodshed from May 5. We demand CRPF remain in the area".
The CRPF official said, "We are here to instill confidence among the people with support of the local police, We have assured them of full security."
An Election Commission official said a report has been sought about the protests from the district administration.
