CM Siddaramaiah Defends Resource Mobilisation and Addresses Petrol Price Concerns
BELLARY: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has underscored the critical necessity of mobilizing resources for development works in Karnataka, stating that Rs 60,000 crore must be provided for guarantees this year. Speaking to reporters at Toranagallu today, Siddaramaiah posed a pivotal question: "Should resources be mobilized for development works or not?"
Addressing concerns regarding the recent rise in petrol and diesel prices, which have sparked worries about potential increases in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) fares, Siddaramaiah challenged, "Let the BJP propose stopping the guarantee schemes. Will they do that?" He firmly clarified that there is no proposal before the government to hike the fares of KSRTC, the state-owned Road Transport Service.
Siddaramaiah also launched a sharp attack on the BJP for criticizing the Congress government over the rise in fuel prices. He pointed to the Modi government's significant increase in excise duty on petrol, from Rs 9.48 per liter to Rs 32.98 per liter. Drawing a contrast, he noted that during Manmohan Singh's tenure as Prime Minister, crude oil was priced at $113 per barrel. "Now, how much is it? When it fell to $50 in 2015, did the Modi government reduce the petrol and diesel prices? Even when crude oil prices dipped to $27, was there any decrease in petrol and diesel prices?" he questioned.
Siddaramaiah emphasized that allegations should be based on facts. "While crude oil prices have decreased, petrol prices have risen under the Modi government. We have increased prices for development purposes. Despite this increase, our prices are still lower compared to neighboring states," he added.
On the topic of the Tungabhadra Balancing Reservoir construction at Navale in Koppal taluk, Siddaramaiah announced that discussions would be initiated between Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared. This project aims to address water management and distribution issues in the region.
In conclusion, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statements highlight the Karnataka government's focus on resource mobilization for development, refute speculations about KSRTC fare hikes, and call out the BJP's misleading allegations regarding fuel price hikes.
