Bengaluru: With just over 20 months to go for the 2018 Assembly polls, Chief Minister Mr Siddaramiah took an indirect swipe at the opposition BJP over its emphasis on patriotism, while extending sops to the weaker sections.
During his independence day address at Field Marshal Manekshaw grounds here on Monday, Mr Siddaramaiah said that patriotism was not about shouting pro-India slogans but about being sympathetic to women and the exploited class.
“We thought education would broaden our vision and make us think scientifically but recent developments and the inhuman incidents in the country have made us change our opinion. The situation is not conducive for women, dalits and minorities to live in this country with respect.
The attacks on dalits, minorities and women are a blot on our nation, there is need for another movement on the lines of the freedom struggle. This struggle should be against poverty, illiteracy, superstition and communal elements,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.
The CM claimed that his government was fighting against these elements for the last three years and had fulfilled more than 75% of the promises made in the Congress manifesto during the last Assembly elections.
He announced that his government was considering enhancing the one kg rice per month scheme for people coming under Anna Bhagya scheme, while giving one kg dal at subsidised rate to those with BPL cards.
Besides, the government was considering extending Ksheera Bhagya (distribution of milk to school students) to five times a week.
Stating that his government had always protected the interest of farmers, who are facing a severe drought in the last two years, Mr Siddaramaiah said that short-term farmer loans have been converted into long-term loans.
Besides, the government has waived the interest on farm loans in the cooperative sector till September, 2015. State farmers have availed over Rs 29,000 crore loans from nationalised banks and if the Centre is prepared to waive half of these loans, the state was ready to waive the remaining loans, he said.
Tech initiative
Mr Siddaramaiah said his government had an ambitious plan of providing free Wi-Fi hotspots in major cities of the State. Besides, the government also intends to provide free Wi-Fi to all panchayats.
Namma Bengaluru
In a bid to utilise excess water in the Cauvery, the government had prepared a project report on constructing a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu. While the project is expected to yield 400 Mw power, the water would be supplied to Bengaluru city, he said.
With Bengaluru witnessing unprecedented growth during the last one decade, the government has envisaged Cauvery V phase project to supply 775 ML water at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore.
The government has also started work on Metro III phase, which would connect Silk Board junction to Krishna Raja Puram while another lane would run from Nagavara to Kempe Gowda International Airport.
Defending the ongoing demolition drive, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the people of Bengaluru were getting scared of rains, as the encroachments had affected the drainage system.
The government had already recovered over 4,950 acres of land that was encroached upon, which is worth over Rs 52,000 crore. The government has decided to initiate stringent action against officials, who were hand in glove with the encroachers, he added.
