Lagatar24 Desk
Solapur: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleging that the Congress government in Karnataka had “looted” funds to finance the election campaign in Maharashtra. Speaking at a press conference in Solapur, Maharashtra, Siddaramaiah termed Modi’s remarks as “blatant lies” and challenged him to substantiate the claims, even vowing to retire from politics if proven wrong.
Siddaramaiah’s Challenge to PM Modi
Addressing the allegations, Siddaramaiah said, “Prime Minister Modi comes, tells blatant lies, and leaves. If he can prove his allegations, I will announce my retirement from politics. Why doesn’t he accept my challenge? What is he afraid of?”
Siddaramaiah also called out what he termed the BJP’s double standards, citing welfare guarantees announced by the party in other states. “PM Modi claims that welfare guarantees ruin the economy, yet the BJP announces similar guarantees during elections in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
Congress Govt’s Guarantees Highlighted
The Karnataka CM defended his government’s welfare schemes, citing their successful implementation within eight months. He detailed initiatives such as:
•Shakti Scheme: Free bus travel for women.
•Gruha Jyothi Scheme: Free electricity up to 200 units for 1.62 crore families.
•Anna Bhagya Scheme: Free rice and financial aid for families.
•Gruha Lakshmi Scheme: ₹2,000 monthly assistance to 1.22 crore women.
•Yuva Nidhi Scheme: Financial aid for unemployed graduates and diploma holders.
“These initiatives empower citizens without harming state finances,” Siddaramaiah emphasized.
Unfair Tax Treatment Alleged
Siddaramaiah accused the Modi government of unfairly treating Karnataka and Maharashtra in terms of tax allocations.
“Karnataka contributes ₹4.5 lakh crore annually but receives only ₹60,000 crore in return, amounting to 13 paise per rupee. Similarly, Maharashtra contributes ₹8.78 lakh crore but gets only ₹1.3 lakh crore, equating to 15 paise per rupee,” he said, calling it an injustice to both states.
Call to Support Maha Vikas Aghadi
Campaigning for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Solapur, Siddaramaiah urged voters to support the coalition for Maharashtra’s development. “I urge the people of Maharashtra to vote for the MVA to ensure development and economic progress,” he stated.
PM Modi’s Allegations
Earlier this month, PM Modi had accused the Congress of running a “looting” operation in Karnataka to fund their Maharashtra campaign. He claimed, “Congress is looting people in Karnataka in broad daylight. Allegedly, they are using the same money to fight elections in Maharashtra.”
