BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra addressing a public meeting near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Addressing a public gathering in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Friday, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led State government as part of his party’s Janakrosh Yatra, accusing it of misleading the public with its flagship guarantee schemes.
“The Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks at length about the five guarantee schemes. However, in reality, funds are released to beneficiaries only when elections are round the corner,” Mr. Vijayendra alleged. “For instance, the arrears under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme were cleared just days before the recent Lok Sabha elections.”
Criticising the much-publicised Shakti scheme, which offers free travel for women in government buses, Mr. Vijayendra claimed it was adversely affecting rural schoolchildren. “Children from remote areas are unable to commute because buses are overcrowded or diverted for the scheme,” he said. “The government is offering ₹2,000 under these schemes with one hand and taking ₹25,000 from the people with the other.”
He also attributed the region’s lag in industrial development to what he termed the government’s “anti-industry” policies. “Major companies are reluctant to invest in Karnataka due to an inconvenient industrial policy and are instead opting for neighbouring States,” he said.
Mr. Vijayendra didn’t mince words in his criticism of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, recalling past demands by some Congress-affiliated Lingayat leaders for separate religious status. “Basavanna and the 12th-century Sharanas fought for an egalitarian society. Yet, Mr. Siddaramaiah supported divisive efforts aimed at fragmenting the Lingayat community,” he said.
BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra addressing a public meeting near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
ARUN KULKARNI
Accusing the Congress of identity politics, he added, “The party claims to follow Ambedkar to maintain its Dalit vote bank. But where were these leaders when Dalits were driven to suicide? Now, they’re appeasing one section by insulting another.”
The BJP leader also emphasised internal unity within the party and urged workers to stay motivated. “Our strength lies in grassroot workers who dedicate themselves day and night to building the party,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former Minister B. Sriramulu, Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Council N. Ravikumar, MLAs Basavaraj Mattimadu and Avinash Jadhav, and senior leaders Subhash Guttedar, B.G. Patil, Shashil Namoshi, Dattatreya Patil Revoor, Rajkumar Patil Telkur, and Ambaraya Ashtagi were also present at the event.
Published – April 18, 2025 06:31 pm IST
