Centre has given more funds than before, yet CM blames it politically: Basavaraj Bommai
Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claiming that the state is receiving more funds from the Centre under the 15th Finance Commission than it did under the 14th, yet the CM is making political allegations against the Union government due to an inability to manage finances for the state’s guarantee schemes.
Speaking to the media, Bommai stated that the Centre has allocated over ₹1 lakh crore more to Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission. “Siddaramaiah is repeating what he has said many times before, and most of it has been misleading,” he said. “PM Narendra Modi increased the Centre’s share in devolution from 32% to 42%, which Siddaramaiah knows but chooses to ignore. Everyone is now demanding that it be raised further to 50%.”
Bommai pointed out that five Congress ministers were part of the discussions during the 14th Finance Commission, yet they failed to effectively present Karnataka's case. “Now they are trying to cover up their failures by blaming the Centre,” he alleged.
He also noted that during the UPA regime, only ₹700 crore was sanctioned for railway projects in Karnataka, while the current NDA government has allotted ₹7,700 crore. However, he said the state government is unable to provide the required matching grants. “The Centre is funding various projects in health, rural development, and road infrastructure, but the state government refuses to acknowledge it,” he added.
On the issue of caste census, Bommai remarked, “Only the central government has the authority to conduct a caste-based census. The CM is misleading the backward communities. Siddaramaiah has been CM for ten years—why didn’t he do it earlier? He was in a tough spot over this issue, and the party high command had to come to his rescue.”
Commenting on international matters, Bommai expressed concern over Israel’s attack on Iran, calling it “shocking.” He urged world leaders to make serious efforts to stop wars, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as these have global repercussions.
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Kasaragod: Government Medical College gets first MBBS student from Rajasthan
Kasaragod: The Government Medical College, which recently secured the National Medical Commission’s approval, admitted its first MBBS student on Monday, with Gurwinder Singh from Alwar in Rajasthan becoming the first of the 50 students in the inaugural batch of the College.
Singh received a warm welcome into the College with sweets by Principal-in-Charge Dr. KK Santosh Kumar and Medical Superintendent Dr Praveen. The admission procedure was formally completed with the recording of his attendance, reports On Manorama.
The College has seven seats reserved for candidates from the All-India rank list, and Singh qualified for a seat in the College under the All-India Medical Entrance quota.
Unlike the other government medical colleges in the state, where classes started this week after the admission of students during the first round of counseling, the Kasaragod Medical College had to wait for approval from the National Medical Commission. The College received the approval and began enrolling students after conclusion of counseling.
The classes will begin on September 30, after completion of Phase 2 of allotment. The first batch students are currently provided temporary hostel facilities at Cherkkala.
While the second student under the All-India rank list is expected to join the College today, the authorities have said they cannot guarantee how long the new students will remain, adding that some students may opt to move to other colleges if they are allotted seats there.
