‘Govt. spent Rs. 500 crore on publicity while Guarantee Schemes are hurting economy’

Mysore/Mysuru: Questioning the Congress Government’s decision to hold a ‘Sadhana Samavesha’ in Tumakuru tomorrow to mark three years in office, MLC A.H. Vishwanath said, the Siddaramaiah-led Government has little to showcase as  an achievement.

Addressing a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan in city this morning, Vishwanath said, it was for the people, and not the ruling party, to judge and celebrate a Govt’s achievements. “The Congress is organising this rally only to praise itself while people are still wondering what the Government has actually achieved,” he alleged.

Claiming that the Government had spent nearly Rs. 500 crore on advertisements, Vishwanath said, no previous Government had spent so much on publicity. He also alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was using the rally to strengthen his political position amid speculation over a possible leadership change.

He criticised the Government’s Guarantee Schemes, alleging that they had weakened the State’s economy. “The Government has diverted funds earmarked for specific sectors to implement Guarantees,” he claimed. Vishwanath also accused the Government of creating divisions by revoking the hijab restrictions introduced during the previous BJP regime. “While the Government has allowed hijabs, it is not right to object to saffron shawls,” he said.

‘Mysuru getting branded for drugs’

Strongly criticising the recent hike in liquor prices, Vishwanath alleged that rising alcohol costs were pushing youngsters towards narcotic substances, which he claimed were becoming cheaper and more accessible.

He alleged that Police from other States had busted drug rackets linked to Mysuru and claimed that frequent transfers and corruption in Police postings had affected law enforcement.

“It is unfortunate that Mysuru, which is the home district of the Chief Minister, is getting branded for drugs and banned narcotic substances,” he said.

Vishwanath also accused the CM of wasteful expenditure on air travel, alleging that the Government had spent Rs. 38 crore on Siddaramaiah’s air tours over the last three years. Alleging that Siddaramaiah had done little for AHINDA communities, Vishwanath claimed that the Chief Minister invoked the AHINDA slogan only during political crises. “He has not introduced any major welfare schemes for AHINDA communities,” he said.

He also extended birthday wishes to JD(S) Supremo and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda.