BJP demands white paper on state's finances

Bengaluru: Opposition BJP demanded on Monday that the Congress-JD(S) coalition government come out with a 'white paper' on the state’s financial position. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Govind Karjol also accused CM H.D. Kumaraswamy of regional bias. "The CM is repeatedly levelling allegations against the BJP, stating that the party is not allowing him to administer and take up developmental work," Karjol told reporters at Bagalkote in north Karnataka. Stating that BJP has never staged any demonstration or protest against Kumaraswamy, he said that the CM instead of lying, should immediately come clean about the financial condition of the state.

"I demand that the government come out with facts and figures on pending dues to contractors and others in all departments. "I demand a white paper on the financial condition of the state," he added. Critical about the functioning of the coalition government, which it claimed has "not taken off", the BJP had earlier too demanded that Mr Kumaraswamy, who holds the finance portfolio, come out with a "white paper" on the state's financial position. Reacting to the BJP's demand, Kumaraswamy had recently said that if they had any information on the finances being in a poor state, they should come out with it. Alleging that the government's development activities were only restricted to Mysuru region, Karajol called it a "government of Mysuru division". 

He said the CM was laying foundation stone and inaugurating projects worth Rs 1,000-2,000 crore in Hassan, Mandya and Mysuru districts, but has not come to north Karnataka to initiate any project. Following the presentation of budget in July, Kumaraswamy has been accused by the opposition of being biased towards southern Karnataka.