Ex-K'taka CM Bommai slams Siddaramaiah govt for not rolling out Cong poll guarantees on first day
Bengaluru, May 20: Former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday flayed the Congress for not fulfilling its five guarantees on the first day it assumed power in the state.
Newly sworn-in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka Cabinet led by him in its maiden meet today accorded "in-principle" approval to implement the Congress party's five guarantees and initial estimates indicate that it would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore annually.
The first Cabinet meeting was held immediately after Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister, and D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister along with eight MLAs as Ministers.
"It's agreed upon. We will not go back (on the promises)," the Chief Minister said, adding, the assurances would be fulfilled notwithstanding financial implications, if any.
ALSO READ: Indira Canteens across the state to be re-opened for public soon: Siddaramaiah
The assurances promised before the elections would "most likely" be implemented after the next Cabinet meeting, he said addressing a press conference here.
The party's five poll guarantees are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kilograms of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth, Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
Bommai said the people of Karnataka had high expectations from the new government but they were disappointed.
He alleged that these have turned out to be mere promises because the Congress did not study the beneficiaries, estimated expenditure, the conditions, and when to start these guarantees.
"The government says it will be implemented in the next cabinet meeting. We don't know when it will be implemented, whether or not, in the next cabinet meeting. The real colours of this government will be known only after the orders are passed," Bommai alleged.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Andhra CM conducts aerial survey of key projects in North Andhra
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday undertook an aerial survey of key development projects in the North Andhra region to assess their progress.
After a review meeting with officials on the Visakhapatnam Economic Region (VER), he conducted an aerial survey of projects such as Bhogapuram Airport, IT, tourism and others in a chopper, said an official release.
The CM reviewed the IT hub and Global Capability Centre (GCC) project works near Kapuluppada, where the Visakhapatnam IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has been expanded, and other projects.
Naidu issued instructions to officials to ensure efficient road connectivity to the Bhogapuram international airport and to accelerate the development of the associated township.
He also sought details on the proposal for an aviation university as part of the education hub planned at Bhogapuram.
The CM also issued directives to officials on road and rail connectivity, including logistics support for IT, pharma, industrial clusters, ports, and airports within the Visakhapatnam Economic Region.
Comprising nine districts in total, the southern state aims to transform VER into a USD 135 billion economy by 2032.
ALSO READ: We are completely immune, says SC; flags half-baked running commentary on pending cases
With a population of 1.65 crore people, 38,000 sq km of area, per capita income of USD 3,170 and a workforce of 70 lakh people, VER accounts for 23 percent population and 31 percent of the state’s total area, said an official press release.
The state plans to develop the region through seven growth drivers such as global ports, next generation IT, agriculture, tourism, healthcare hub, planned urban housing and best infrastructure.
Out of six ports, four are currently operational – Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Kakinada Deep Water and Kakinada Anchorage – while Kakinada Gateway and Mulapeta ports will be the new ones.
VER aims to construct seven new railway projects, nine road projects, 77-km long Metro rail connectivity project and set up 12 manufacturing units, among others.
Further, the government aims to construct 7.5 houses (welfare), facilitate 10,000 hotel rooms construction, set up 20 medical and IT skilling colleges, add 5,000 hospital beds, develop 50 million sq ft of office space, and earmark 50,000 acres for industries and other facilities.
