Mysuru: BJP’s achievement is raising Rs 165 lakh crore debt, says KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshman
Mysuru: KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshman on Wednesday strongly criticised the Union Budget, calling it corporate-driven, baseless and lacking long-term vision. He alleged that the BJP government’s achievement was pushing the country into massive debt amounting to Rs 165 lakh crore.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Mysuru, Lakshman said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a budget of Rs 53.50 lakh crore for 2026, marking her ninth budget and increasing the size by Rs 4 lakh crore compared to the previous year.
He said that from Independence in 1947 till March 21, 2014, the total national debt stood at Rs 53.2 lakh crore. However, in the 12 years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, the national debt has increased by Rs 218.6 lakh crore. “The Centre’s major achievement is raising loans worth Rs 165 lakh crore. The government should explain how many welfare schemes have been implemented using this borrowed money,” he questioned.
Lakshman said the country pays nearly Rs 13 lakh crore every year as interest on loans, while the principal repayment stands at around Rs 18 lakh crore.
Referring to infrastructure projects, he said that the Mysuru-Bengaluru road was constructed through private investment of nearly Rs 15,000 crore and people have to pay 1 thousand Rupees as toll to travel once, he said.
He further alleged that the Union Budget lacked clarity and failed to address the financial concerns of Karnataka. He pointed out that Karnataka stands second in the country in tax collection after Maharashtra. “Every year, the state contributes nearly Rs 5.26 lakh crore to the Centre through nine types of taxes. As per the 14th Monetary Policy Commission, 41% of this amount should be returned by the Centre. However, instead of receiving Rs 2 lakh crore, Karnataka is getting only about Rs 60,000 crore,” he said.
He said that Uttar Pradesh, which contributes around Rs 6 lakh crore in taxes, receives Rs 2.18 lakh crore in return, while Madhya Pradesh gets Rs 1.11 lakh crore out of its Rs 2.5 lakh crore tax contribution. “Despite contributing significantly, Karnataka is being neglected,” he said.
He said the proposed Bengaluru-Hyderabad train, is not a bullet train but merely an upgraded version of the existing service that may reduce travel time by about an hour.
He further accused the Centre of not providing funds or approvals for major irrigation projects such as Bhadra Upper Bank, Krishna Upper Bank, Mekedatu and Mahadayi. “Even if funds are not provided, it is okay, but the Centre is not granting necessary clearances for these projects also,” he said.
Congress city president R. Murthy, media spokesperson Mahesh, KPCC spokesperson Najma Nazeer, vice president Gopi, youth wing president Abrar, Mahadev, Girish and other leaders were present at the press conference.
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Criminal carrying reward of Rs 25,000 arrested following encounter in UP's Ballia
Ballia (UP) (PTI): Police in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh arrested a criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head following an encounter late on Saturday night, a police official said, adding that he sustained a gunshot injury on his left leg.
Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Kripa Shankar said that acting on a tip-off, a team of the Garhwar police station and the SOG (Special Operations Group) attempted to apprehend the wanted criminal at around 10.15 pm on Saturday. Upon realising that he was surrounded by the police, the criminal allegedly fired at the police.
The police fired in self-defence, and the criminal sustained injuries on his left leg, the officer said, adding that he was subsequently arrested.
He has been identified as Tenger Nat (35), a resident of the Kharhatar village under the Gadwar police station area.
According to the ASP, Nat has been sent to the community health centre in Ratsar, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
The arrested accused has allegedly been involved in numerous incidents of theft in Garhwar, Sukhpura, and Nagra police station areas of the district.
The police recovered a country-made pistol and cartridges from his possession.
