Promising to continue Congress’s schemes, Kumaraswamy seems to be bending over backwards to keep predecessors happy.
Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy appears to be bending over backwards to keep his predecessor Siddaramaiah and the Congress party in good humour for the smooth running of the Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress coalition government.
After presenting his full-fledged budget in the state assembly Thursday, Kumaraswamy went to the extent of calling “Siddaramaiah’s budget is my budget” to douse the latest controversy over allocations.
In response to criticism by some Congress legislators that there was no mention or allocation for the needs of the minority communities, Kumaraswamy said he would like to continue the programmes announced by Siddaramaiah in his February 16 budget. “The allocations made in the previous budget stands and my government will only aim at continuing the same,” he said.
He also maintained that he will continue Congress’s flagship welfare programmes such as the Indira Canteens and the Anna Bhagya schemes.
Today’s budget
Unveiling the budget proposals, Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced a major Rs 34,000-crore farm loan waiver scheme. He added that the waiver has been limited to loan amounts of up to Rs 2 lakh.
With the waiver imposing a huge burden on the exchequer, he also announced proposals to mop up additional resources, including increase in the rate of tax on petrol by Rs 1.14 per litre and diesel by Rs 1.12 per litre. He also increased the power tariff by 20 paise per unit.
The fuel price hike was the only major difference between his budget and Siddaramaiah’s. The former CM consistently tried to reduce the taxation on petrol and diesel in each successive budget. In fact, during the election campaign, Congress went to town about how the Modi government has been unable to control the rising fuel prices. As a mark of protest against the rising fuel prices, Rahul Gandhi had even ridden a cycle in Kolar during one of his election tours.
In view of this, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the first to criticise the fuel price hike. Kumaraswamy responded saying there was no need for the BJP to disparage the move. He defended it by saying fuel prices in Karnataka are still much lower than all the southern states as well as Maharashtra.
However, the BJP did have a field day on social media criticising Kumaraswamy’s decision. After Rahul Gandhi threw a #FuelChallenge at Prime Minister Narendra Modi as response to his #FitnessChallenge last month, the BJP decided to pay back Thursday. “No takers for Rahul Gandhi’s #FuelChallenge, not even his government! This is what happens when you pretend to know and preach things that you have no idea about!!!” tweeted the BJP.
Continuing old schemes
In his budget, Kumaraswamy promised continued implementation of Siddaramaiah’s Anna Bhagya scheme. “In a bid to remove hunger, Anna Bhagya scheme will be continued. Children in schools and anganwadis also to get midday meals and hot food under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme,” he announced.
As part of the scheme, Siddaramaiah had decided to give 7 kg rice per head free of cost to every BPL member. Kumaraswamy announced to take it one step further and make it a wholesome meal. He said he would provide 5 kg of rice, half a kg of tur dal, 1 kg of palm oil, 1 kg of iodised salt and 1 kg of sugar.
The budget presented by Kumaraswamy seems to have helped strengthen the coalition ties as he made it clear that the perceived feud between Siddaramaiah and him was short-lived. Kumaraswamy may have finally found balance on the tight rope that he has been walking since taking over as chief minister, political observers said.
To top it all, Kumaraswamy’s statement on the floor of the house should calm nerves on both sides. “You may have a difference in opinion, but let me tell you that I believe that the same Siddaramanna (as Siddaramaiah is called respectfully) who you say is the key to the end of this coalition, is the person who will keep this coalition alive,” said the chief minister.