Is PM Modi economist, asks Siddaramaiah at launch of registration of poll guarantee 'Yuva Nidhi'
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for criticising the five guarantees of the Congress government and wondered whether he was an economist.
He also took a dig at the prime minister for failing to offer two crore jobs a year as promised 10 years ago.
"Mr Prime Minister, our Congress government has implemented all the five guarantees in Karnataka. Your statement that the state will go bankrupt has proved wrong," he said.
Siddaramaiah was speaking at the launch of the registration of Congress party's fifth and final poll guarantee Yuva Nidhi' offering unemployment assistance of Rs 3,000 to graduates and Rs 1,500 to diploma holders who passed in the academic year 2022-23.
"Is Modi an economist? He had said that Karnataka will go bankrupt if the five guarantees are implemented. The reality is that the state has grown financially strong now with the implementation of five guarantees," the chief minister claimed.
ALSO READ: CM Siddaramaiah launches registration of fifth poll guarantee 'Yuva Nidhi'
"Have you (PM Modi) created two crore jobs a year as promised by you? You should have created 20 crore jobs in 10 years. Did you create so many jobs? You failed to keep up your word," Siddaramaiah charged.
The chief minister explained that the state government will offer free training to youth besides giving them Yuva Nidhi assistance.
He also told the gathering that the disbursement of the benefit will start from Vivekananda Jayanti on January 12, 2024. The money will be directly deposited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Siddaramaiah also said that the government will take steps to fill the vacant jobs in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Sharanaprakash Patil and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, were among those who were present on the occasion.
According to officials, financial assistance would be given to those who do not get a job even after completion of 180 days from the date of passing the degree/diploma. The candidates are required to prove domicile of Karnataka for a minimum of six years, they said.
The unemployment allowance would be given for a period of two years from the date of announcement of the result or till he/she becomes employed/self-employed whichever is earlier.
Candidates who are self-employed and continuing higher education are excluded from the scheme.
According to Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Sharanaprakash Patil, this year Rs 250 crore has been allocated to the scheme. Next year an expenditure of Rs 1,250 crore is anticipated and the year after that the state may incur a spending of approximately Rs 2,500 crore.
Those who wish to avail the benefit can apply by logging on to 'Seva Sindhu portal', or through 'Karnataka One', 'Bengaluru One', 'Grama One' and 'Bapuji Seva Kendra'. The enrollment will be free of cost, he added.
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IPL final shifted for bigger stadium, not ticket issue: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday rubbished allegations that the IPL final venue was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad due to the distribution of tickets to MLAs.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the reason for the shift could be the availability of a larger stadium in Ahmedabad.
“Ahmedabad has a large stadium and can accommodate more spectators. That must be the reason the IPL final was shifted there. There is no connection between ticket distribution to MLAs and the venue change,” he said.
When asked about reports linking the venue shift to MLAs demanding tickets, he quipped, “In some places, 50 per cent of tickets are reserved.”
When reporters said the BCCI had indicated that the decision was linked to ticket issues, he responded, “Let them make such statements. I will respond appropriately.”
Bengaluru was originally expected to host the final as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the defending champions.
Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for a second successive season on May 31, the BCCI announced earlier in the day, while allotting Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala and two other playoff games to New Chandigarh.
The board, however, said the final venue was shifted “owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.”
Shivakumar declined to comment on the revocation of the suspension of Muslim leaders in Davanagere, saying it was a party decision.
Regarding the removal of MLC Naseer Ahmed as CM Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, he said the chief minister had already spoken on the matter.
“The CM has his own information. Party office-bearers have provided guidance. He was given certain responsibilities, which he did not handle properly, which is why he was removed,” Shivakumar said.
On MLC Abdul Jabbar, who resigned as the state Congress minority cell chief and was later expelled from the party, he said Jabbar had submitted his resignation, which the party accepted.
The Congress in Karnataka faced internal dissent in April when several Muslim leaders objected to the party fielding Samarth Shamanur as its candidate for the recently held Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.
They demanded that a Muslim candidate be fielded, citing the constituency’s substantial Muslim population. The party subsequently took disciplinary action against three leaders, including Jabbar and MLC Ahmed.
When asked about his and the CM’s visit to Delhi, he said, “We will go when the high command calls us. It is not appropriate to go without being called.”
On Congress supporting TVK in Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar said the decision was taken to keep the "BJP out of power and strengthen secular forces." Elections to the 234 Assembly constituencies were held on April 23, and the results were announced on May 4.
The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, announced its support for TVK to form a government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major.
The incumbent DMK was trounced by the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Vijay, who secured 108 seats. “Despite pressure from the AIADMK and BJP, TVK did not align with them. Our party has taken this decision in the interest of secular forces and the welfare of Tamil Nadu,” Shivakumar said.
