No move to dissolve Upper House, says Karnataka CM

HASSAN: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the state government has no intention of dissolving the Legislative Council, setting at rest speculation in a section of the media on such moves by his government.  

He told the media here, “Even in Andhra Pradesh, the Legislative Council is back. We are not thinking about dissolution of the Council.”

He said the Union government had accepted the report of 14th Finance Commission and the Finance Commission had made recommended devolution of central taxes from 32 to 42 per cent. This resulted in the state government securing Rs 8,320 crore but in the latest budget, the Union Government cut down on funds for Centrally-sponsored schemes resulting in the state losing more than Rs 10,000 crores.

“It is nothing but giving in one hand and snatching away more funds with another hand. If funds were not reduced, then we could have paid more attention to irrigation projects, the public works department and also development of Bengaluru city. This is an injustice meted out to the state government by the Union government,” he added.

When asked about a decline in food production, Mr Siddaramaiah said: “The target has been achieved, but thinking is on to increase food production through better crop yielding varieties. Now, the impetus will be to increase productive in available land.”

Responding to the allegation of H D Revanna, JD (S) leader  that the state government was anti-farmer, the Chief Minister replied, “Our Government has given maximum relief to farmers who suffered crop losses.”