Cong blocking central schemes in state, charges Modi
PM promises 21st century infrastructure if voted to power
Narendra Modi addresses the public during his rally at Palace Grounds. Twitter/BJP photo.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday promised that the BJP would provide 21st century infrastructure for Karnataka even as he accused the ruling Congress of creating hurdles in the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes.
Addressing a large gathering to mark the conclusion of BJP's Navakarnataka Nirmana Parivarthana Yatra at the sprawling Palace Grounds, Modi said the BJP would take the state on the path of development.
"We will provide 21st century infrastructure including Metro, roads, railway and civic amenities which will place the state on a new path that will match the global benchmark," Modi said.
'How can you be so careless?'
He said the ruling dispensation was blocking implementation of central schemes. "We have set a target of housing for all by 2022. Karnataka has been allotted 3.36 lakh houses for the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, but the state government has constructed only 38,000 houses. How can any government be so casual and careless ?" he said, throwing the question to the crowd.
He said the state had been allocated Rs 246 crore for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for Bengaluru, but Rs 70 crore had remained unspent. "Under Smart City initiative, the state has been sanctioned Rs 836 crore, but the government has so far utilised Rs 143 crore, with the balance lurking in the state treasuries," Modi said.
He accused the Congress of working backwards. "When the BJP is working towards taking the nation forward, here in Karnataka, Ganga ulti beh rahi hai (Ganga is flowing backwards)".
Modi said the BJP always stood for the welfare of farmers. The BJP, he said, has given "TOP" priority to farmers, explaining, "by TOP, I mean Tomato, Onion, Potato".
Modi said the Centre would back BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa's promise that Rs one lakh crore would be earmarked for irrigation projects, if the party comes to power. "With the strength of the Centre and the BJP government here, we can bring water to the fields of Karnataka," he said and added that the two governments could help in multiplying the developmental impact in the state.