Congress workers get guaranteed panel posts, BJP’s “taxpayers’ charge”

Bengaluru:

A huge line has erupted in Karnataka after the Siddaramaiah government has appointed Congress workers as office-bearrs for their salaries and allowances for their salaries and allowances to fulfill the prescribed money.

The opposition BJP and JD (S) have accused the ruling Congress of looting taxpayers’ money to pay their workers. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar has replied that Congress workers have every right to oversee the programs of the state government.

BJP MLAs today staged a protest outside the Vidhan Saudh. JD (S) MLA MT Krishnappa raised the issue in the assembly yesterday. He said that when MLAs and officials were overseeing the implementation of the program, the Congress government was unnecessarily spending money on party employees.

Leader of opposition R Ashok criticized Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress chief Shivkumar and said that he had failed to distinguish between the government and the party. He said, “How can you pay taxpayers’ money to Congress workers? If you want to pay them, begging on the streets. These Congress workers are given cabinet rank, official bungalows and offices,” he said.

Shri Shivkumar defended the move. “This is the will of the government. Party workers who bring this government to power have every right to oversee its programs.”

Mr. Ashok then asked whether BJP workers could be appointed to monitor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programs.

Former Home Minister, BJP’s Araga Gyanendra, said that Congress workers appointed in the panel are holding parallel meetings instead of working with MLAs. “Do you not trust us? We are already receiving salary and allowances for the same purpose. It is undemocratic.”

Mr. Shivkumar replied that the BJP always opposed the guarantee. “Our government is allocation of Rs 52,000 to Rs 56,000 crore, which is 20 percent of the budget for guarantee schemes. The BJP is also implementing the guarantee in Delhi, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.”

“Everyone from the Prime Minister to a BJP MLA criticized the guarantee schemes. Despite the opposition, we moved forward and rolled it. Guarantee plans will not stop until the Congress government is in power. The Deputy Chief Minister said.

Outside the assembly, Mr. Ashok told the media, “In each assembly constituency, Congress leaders are being appointed and a salary of Rs 25,000 is being given with individual assistants. A seating fee of Rs 1,100 has been fixed. The state president is getting a salary of Rs 40,000, while the vice president is being paid Rs 25,000.

In protest today, the state BJP chief by Vijayendra targeted chief Siddaramaiah. “He is misusing the state funds and taxpayers’ money to pay the salary of the Chairman of the Guarantee Implementation Plan. We raised the issue in the house, we are protesting today and will present a memorandum to the Governor.”