Bengaluru, 24 September

State BJP President BY Vijayendra on Thursday alleged that a Finance Department letter warning about the State's financial situation was a “mirror” of the "serious" fiscal distress of the government. He accused Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of "misleading" people on the issue.

The Finance Department, when examining the Rs 10,000 crore Chief Minister's Rural Road Connectivity Scheme, had cautioned the government of taking up projects involving massive expenditure that have not been earmarked in the budget at this stage, citing cash-flow constraints. 

Vijayendra told reporters that this was not a routine letter, but a document reflecting the financial realities in Karnataka, and alleged that the government could not even pay the salaries of its employees or disburse pensions to the poor and people with disabilities. 

Vijayendra pointed out that there have been constant allegations that the financial burden of the Congress government's guarantee schemes was affecting allocations for development projects, farmers and other priority sectors.

FARMERS 

Vijayendra questioned the government's priorities, saying Shivakumar was enthusiastic about developing an airport near Kanakapura and about tunnel road projects but did not show the same urgency in addressing farmers' problems.

Vijayendra alleged that the government was attempting to acquire farmers' land in Shiralakoppa in Shikaripura taluk in the name of a ring road and highlighted protests by farmers in Bidadi against acquisition of their land.

"Development projects should not involve forcibly taking farmers' land," he said.

DON’T DO POLITICS: DKS 

Shivakumar, however, dismissed the BJP’s khali chombu (empty pot) protest, saying that the Finance Department was simply doing its duty. 

“Whether it was the BS Yediyurappa government or the Basavaraj Bommai government, the Finance Department has given such advice during every government,” the Chief Minister said. He said that the financial difficulties were due to the drought, and said that the Opposition shouldn’t politicise the Finance Department’s letter.