Mysuru: District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, who also addressed the gathering yesterday, said that the Varuna Assembly Constituency represented by CM Siddaramaiah has thus far got a grant of Rs.3,045 crore since 2008, when the Constituency was formed.

Stating that Siddaramaiah himself is a power, he said the CM has been working in response to the voice of the people.

“Siddaramaiah never supported corruption or graft. The voice of the oppressed sections will get dimmed if Siddaramaiah loses his pitch. The Opposition Congress and JD(S) have been targeting the CM because he comes from a backward community. The Opposition does not have any moral right to criticise the CM,” Minister Dr. Mahadevappa said.

MLC Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, in his address, said that developmental works have not been hurt by the introduction of Guarantee Schemes.

Maintaining that the GDP growth in Karnataka is 10.2 percent, which is 2 percent higher as compared to the National GDP, he asserted this was enough proof that the State’s economy has been powered by the Guarantee Schemes.

Asserting that the Guarantee Schemes are not free schemes, the MLC said that the schemes are the right of the people as the State coffers is filled by the tax paid by the people.

Ministers K. Venkatesh, N.S. Boseraju and Rahim Khan too spoke at the programme held in CM’s home district.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, apart from launching a slew of development works, inaugurated the new building of T. Narasipur Town Municipal Council (TMC) and N.R.L.M. Building of Nagarle Gram Panchayat coming under Varuna Assembly segment on the occasion.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah was accorded a warm welcome by local leaders and villagers. The CM was garlanded with a huge garland amid slogans hailing the CM. Thousands of people from Mysuru, T. Narasipur and Nanjangud taluks attended the programme.