Budget solely aimed at Muslim appeasement: Joshi

Hubballi: Union minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress govt led by chief minister Siddaramaiah of increasing loans for Muslims in the state, as presented in the state budget.
Speaking to the media here on Saturday, Joshi criticised that the state's GDP exceeded 23% and everyone in the state now bears a debt of Rs 1 lakh. "Siddaramaiah has not provided any significant contributions to the Kittur Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka regions. This is a grave injustice," he added.
He also lamented that the state budget is solely for appeasing Muslims for vote bank politics. "The entire budget is neglecting other communities, including Dalits. While the Union govt promotes ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', the Congress govt in the state is only focusing on ‘Muslim Vikas'," he alleged.
Referring to the ideals of Buddha, Basavanna, Ambedkar, and Savitribai Phule, Joshi criticised govt for claiming equality in the budget while practising vote bank politics by favouring one community. He strongly opposed the reservation for Muslims in govt projects up to Rs 2 crore, questioning why other small contractors from different communities are not given the same opportunity. He also questioned the 20% reservation for Muslims in KIADB, asking where others should go if such a significant portion is reserved for them.
He questioned the hike of honorarium for Maulvis to Rs 6,000 and said it comes from temple revenues. "The announcement of Rs 50,000 support for Muslim marriages has created a question — whether Karnataka is turning into Pakistan for favouring only one community. Allocation of Rs 50 lakh for minority cultural programmes is also questionable regarding the type of culture being promoted. Govt has announced financial aid of Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for minority students going abroad for higher education. What have other communities done to deserve exclusion?" he questioned.
He emphasised the need to bring minority and backward children into the mainstream through education, providing basic facilities, and offering value-based, higher education for a better life, rather than keeping them in a backward state with reservations and marriage incentives.
Joshi: Was the police commissioner pressured by Congressmen?
Responding to a query about whether Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner N Shashikumar failed in handling the case of misuse of food kits reserved for pregnant women and Anganwadi children, Joshi said Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya himself said on record that the commissioner failed. "At the other end, the accused, who are absconding now, said they were giving monthly bribes to all higher officials of the women and child development department and Congress functionaries. Now, Shashikumar himself should reply whether he failed, or he was pressured by Congressmen to let go of the accused in the case." he added.