Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses PM Narendra Modi of protecting businessman Gautam Adani
The Hindu
The Chief Minister said BJP has time and again demonstrated that it is anti-poor, and this came to the fore when the Manmohan Singh government introduced the Food Security Act.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘protecting’ industrialist Gautam Adani who has been indicted by a US court on charges of fraud and bribery.
Speaking to mediapersons in Mysuru on on November 22, Mr. Siddaramaiah said though an arrest warrant has been issued against Adani, the Centre headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken no action and is protecting him.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said that it was India’s reputation which has been sullied in the world, and not only is the BJP supportive of Adani but is defending his acts, and this cannot be done without the approval of Prime Minister Modi.
Turning his guns on the BJP MPs from Karnataka Mr. Siddaramaiah said though the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has slashed the funding for the State by 58%, none of them (BJP MPs) have spoken out against this reduction nor discussed the issue with the Centre.
Karnataka’s allocation was ₹5,600 crore during 2023-24 but has been reduced by 58%, to ₹2,340 crore for 2024-25. He added that NABARD had slashed funding across India in an irrational manner.
He expressed outrage that not only have the BJP MPs not spoken out against it, but former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is also silent on the issue.
’He claims to be a son of the soil, but is silent. Why has the matter not been taken up with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka,” questioned Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Sources in the BBMP said that there were issues with the particular land parcel. The civic body had suggested that the government of Karnataka acquire the land in a barter system with NICE, giving another piece of government land in exchange for the particular piece of land. However, this has run into obstacles.