Congress' economic model brought Karnataka to brink of bankruptcy: Tejasvi Surya
Mumbai (PTI): The economic policies of the Congress government have pushed Karnataka to the brink of bankruptcy, BJYM leader Tejasvi Surya alleged on Wednesday while campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly elections.
The BJP MP claimed the southern state is facing severe financial instability.
"It is an irresponsible economic model designed by the Congress in Karnataka. The state is now standing on the brink of bankruptcy and economic chaos. The government's handling of public funds is creating an economic crisis," Surya told reporters in Mumbai.
He claimed the previous BJP government had presented a Rs 20,000 crore revenue surplus budget in Karnataka. However, the "fiscal indiscipline and misgovernance" by Congress caused a revenue deficit of Rs 12,000 crore over the last two years.
He cautioned the "people of Maharashtra" about the potential risk if Congress is elected to power.
Surya claimed the Karnataka government's promise to provide a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 to women remains unfulfilled, forcing the intended beneficiaries to observe indefinite strikes.
"The state government is left with no funds for development," he said, alluding to budgetary constraints caused by pre-poll promises.
Surya claimed even Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, D K Shivakumar, recently admitted the paucity of funds for basic infrastructure maintenance.
"Deputy Chief Minister D Shivakumar publicly admitted twice that the state has no money to repair potholes in Bengaluru. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sitting beside Shivakumar also acknowledged this concern," said Surya.
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Modi feels copy of Constitution I carry is blank as he has never read it: Rahul Gandhi
Nandurbar (Maharashtra) (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi feels the "red book" of the Constitution which Gandhi carries is blank as he has never read it.
Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nandurbar, Gandhi said the Constitution contains the soul of India and the principles envisaged by national icons like Birsa Munda, Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
"The BJP has objections to the red colour of the book (which Gandhi has been displaying in rallies). But for us, irrespective of the colour, we are committed to preserve it (Constitution) and ready to give up our lives too. Modi ji feels the Constitution (book) is blank because he has never read it," he said.
Congress wants adivasis, Dalits and backward classes to get representation in decision-making, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Notably, BJP leaders in their campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, have sought to link the "red book" displayed by Gandhi to "urban Naxalism".
Gandhi alleged that PM Modi and the BJP were insulting the national icons by making such comments.
The BJP and RSS insult tribals by referring them as "vanvasi" instead of adivasi, he charged.
"Adivasis are the first owners of the country and have the first right on jal (water), jungle (forest) and zameen (land). But the BJP wants adivasis to remain in the jungle without any rights. Birsa Munda fought for this and laid down his life,'' Gandhi said.
Highlighting the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) manifesto, Gandhi said women, farmers and youth will be protected with provisions like Rs 3,000 monthly assistance and free bus travel, farm loan waiver up to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4,000 per month assistance for unemployed youth.
He reiterated the demand for a caste census, saying it will help to ascertain the number of adivasis, Dalits and backward classes in Maharashtra and how much is their share in resources.
At present, out of the eight per cent tribal population, their share in decision-making is only one per cent, Gandhi claimed.
He also alleged that five lakh jobs from Maharashtra have been snatched as various big ticket projects have been shifted to other states.
"Our government will not allow this. Projects meant for Maharashtra will remain here while those meant for Gujarat will stay there,'' he said.
