“Those around the CM are looting the state’s resources. You (Siddaramaiah) will have to answer to your conscience and pay the price for this mismanagement,” he said.
Karnataka govt likely finding excuses to halt guarantee schemes: Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy
Vartha Bharati | 05-01-2025 | 19:08:00 IST
Mysuru (Karnataka), Jan 5: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of finding ways to discontinue its flagship guarantee schemes, while "burdening" the common people with increased costs such as the recent 15 per cent hike in public transport bus fares.
Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said, "The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) is someone who has presented the most number of budgets in the state, as he has also held a finance portfolio, with his consent the five guarantee schemes were implemented and they (Congress) claim that they have walked the talk, but to walk the talk they are playing with the lives of the common man." Expressing concern over the fare hike, he said it impacted farmers, labourers, and the working class.
“By increasing bus fares by 15 per cent, what has this government achieved? These hikes affect the lives of the common people, not the wealthy or ministers’ families,” he said, adding that the hike reflects the government’s insensitivity towards the struggles of the underprivileged.
ALSO READ: Siddaramaiah challenges Kumaraswamy to prove corruption, commission charges against govt
The revised bus fares, which took effect at midnight on Saturday, have drawn criticism from opposition parties and various sections of society.
The JDS leader charged the government with indulging in "daylight robbery," claiming that in the guise of implementing guarantee schemes, it was extracting several times more money from the same beneficiaries.
“The Congress government claims it is fulfilling its promises, but at what cost? They are taking money from the people through fare hikes, increased stamp duties, and higher cess on petrol and diesel, and then giving it back in the form of schemes like Gruha Lakshmi. This is no achievement,” he remarked.
He further alleged that corruption under the current administration has reached unprecedented levels. "Contractors supporting the Congress have said commissions now exceed 60 percent, which is worse than the previous government. Corruption is rampant at Vidhana Soudha and across departments, with fixed percentages for ministers." Acknowledging that some people have benefited from the state government’s guarantee schemes, Kumaraswamy said the fare hike and other financial burdens might be part of a strategy to eventually phase out these schemes.
“Looking at the government’s actions, it appears they are preparing excuses to do away with these schemes in the future. This could be a prelude to that conspiracy,” he said.
The former CM also highlighted the suicide cases of contractors and officials, attributing them to the rampant corruption in the administration.
He urged CM Siddaramaiah to hold his administration accountable.
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.
Theatre stampede: Allu Arjun visits injured boy in hospital
07-01-2025 ¦
07-01-2025 IST
Hyderabad(PTI): Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun on Tuesday visited the boy, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here after suffering serious injury in a stampede at the premiere of his latest film Pushpa 2.
Earlier, Arjun scheduled to visit the hospital on January 5 but the plan was cancelled.
The actor is added as accused No 11 in the case filed after a woman died and her eight-year-old son sustained serious injuries in the stampede on December 4.
During Allu Arjun's visit to the hospital on Tuesday, Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) Chairman Dil Raju was also present. Security was enhanced at the hospital in view of the actor's visit.
The SHO of Ramgopalpet Police Station had issued a notice to Allu Arjun regarding his proposed visit to the hospital and advised him to keep it confidential so that public order could be maintained in and around the hospital.
The SHO said police would make necessary arrangements for his visit.
The 'Pushpa' actor had earlier said that he remained deeply concerned about the boy, who is under constant medical care after the incident. He wished the boy a speedy recovery and said he is looking forward to meeting him and his family, but was advised not to due to ongoing legal proceedings.
The stampede occurred at Sandhya theatre in Hyderabad on December 4 as fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor during the Pushpa 2 premiere.
Following the tragedy, a case was registered against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management at the Chikkadpally police station. The charges were filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint by the deceased woman’s family.
He was arrested on December 13 in connection with the case. However, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail on December 14. He was granted regular bail by a city court on January 3.
