Taking serious exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that not a penny would be released to those opposing development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that it was not right for the Prime Minister to speak in such a manner.
Speaking to presspersons at Hubballi airport on the way to Dharwad for participating in the Belagavi division-level ‘Mahiti Utsav’, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that especially in a democratic country, the Prime Minister should not issue such statement. Questioning Mr. Modi, he sought to know whether no tax was collected from States.
Clarifying that there was no scam in the State government, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had the habit of making baseless allegations and he would not react to the coal scam allegations. He said his Cabinet colleague D.K. Shivakumar and Congress Working President Dinesh Gundurao had already reacted.
On the criticism by Opposition parties, particularly BJP, of the ‘Mahiti Utsav’ being organised by the government across the State, the Chief Minister said that the BJP leaders were making allegations as the elections were nearing. “We have invited everyone to the programme”, he said.
On the comment by BJP that the government was organising the event because of upcoming elections, Mr. Siddaramaiah sought to know what Mr. Narendra Modi was doing in Gujarat, where Assembly elections are on the anvil.