NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday faced fierce criticism by the BJP as he presented the state budget having multiple pies for the Muslim community.
In a blazing attack at the Congress leader, who presented his record 16th budget, the opposition BJP called the fiscal plan a “modern Muslim League budget”.
BJP’s spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari lashed out at Siddaramaiah’s budget, claiming that the Karnataka government “is running the government exactly similar to how Muhammad Ali Jinnah had run the government in Pakistan”.
“In Karnataka, the Congress party has passed a modern Muslim League Budget. In this modern Muslim League budget, the Congress party is increasing the honorarium of Imams to Rs 6000. Waqf is being given Rs 150 crores. Money for self-defence training is being given only to minority girls…Over Rs 1,000 Crores is being used for the benefit of minority…Yesterday, the Karnataka Government spoke about withdrawing cases against Hubballi rioters. So, the Congress party in Karnataka is running the government exactly similar to how Muhammad Ali Jinnah ran the government in Pakistan. It is taking back the Constitutional values and it is only implementing statements, policies which are in the interest of minority communities,” Pradeep Bhandari told news agency ANI.
Leader of opposition in the legislative council N Swamy Chalavadi also criticised the budget, calling it a “debt-based” budget. Chalavadi said that Siddaramaiah played a key role in “rolling back” the state’s financial discipline and making it the government with the highest debt in history.
“This is a “debt-based” budget! The Honorable Chief Minister, is presenting his 16th Budget. He played a key role in rolling back the state’s financial discipline and making it the government with the highest debt in history. 27% debt of income, 18% interest on cost! Congress government – “0” government,” Chalavadi posted on X.
Siddaramaiah, in his budget, declared that an additional building in Haj Bhavan at Bengaluru will be constructed to provide facilities and amenities to Haj pilgrims and their relatives.
The Karnataka CM said that an action has been taken to construct 15 women’s colleges in vacant plots of Waqf institutions to support higher education of minority women in the year 2024-25. Further, 16 new women’s colleges will be started during 2025-26.
The chief minister further stated, “An Action Plan for Rs. 1,000 crores has been prepared under ‘Chief Minister’s Minority Colony Development Programme’. Works will be implemented in the FY 2025-26.”
The state also increased the honorarium given to Pesh-Imams of mosques, Jain priests, chief granthis of Sikhs to Rs 6,000 per month. In the budget, it has been declared that the honorarium given to assistant granthis and Muezzin will be increased to Rs 5,000 per month.
The government also announced that grants worth Rs 100 crore have been earmarked for the comprehensive development of Jain, Buddhist and Sikh communities.
Rs 250 crore will be provided by the Karnataka government for the development of Christian community, reported news agency ANI. An amount of Rs 2 crore has been provided to create necessary infrastructure in the Gurudwaras of the state.