BJP, JDS use Siddaramaiah's Janata Dal past to attack budget

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's performance as Finance Minister during the rule of his estranged party Janata Dal was today used as a tool by the opposition parties to criticise the state budget presented by him.
Two former leaders of the erstwhile Janata Dal, Govinda Karajola, now with BJP and Y S V Datta, now in JD(S), reminded Siddaramaiah, who holds the Finance portfolio, about his stand on certain important issues then, which theybelieve was in "contrast" to what it is today.
Siddaramaiah had joined Congress in 2006, six months after JD(S) sprang a surprise on Congress when Deve Gowda's son H D Kumaraswamy broke away with rebel legislatorsto become Chief minister of JD(S)-BJP coalition, topplingthe government led by senior Congress leader Dharam Singh.

Reminding the Chief Minister of Janata Dal's poll manifesto in 1994-95 in the making of which Siddaramaiah had played a key role, Karajola said during the discussion on the budget in the Assembly that he had then spoken of strengtheningLokayukta body by trying to close loopholes within thesystem.
"Where has that commitment and the urge to work for public interest gone?" he questioned.
Pointing out that the government has failed to spend the amount allocated to various departments during theprevious budget, Karajola also criticised it over its alleged failure in implementing various schemes.

He also alleged there are discrepancies in government schemes like distributing shoes free of cost toschool children and quality sarees to Anganwadi workers.

Stating that the overall welfare of the state and its progress cannot be achieved though this budget, Karajola said "the budget is just like Congress manifesto."
While speaking of the Youth Services Ministry, he even suggested government not appoint aged people as Minister to this department.
JD(S) leader Datta pointed out that Siddaramaiah has presented seven budgets as Janata Dal Minister and said "we hadliked and respected him then for achieving marvels amidst allodds and limitations."
"I somehow feel that Siddarmaiah then used to give his personal touch to the budget by deeply involving himself in the process. Now I think that is missing," he said.

Listing out shortcomings in the budget at various levels, Datta said when one compared Siddaramaiah's performance with his seven budgets presented in Janata Dal rule, "it is disappointing."
Siddaramaiah has presented 11 state budgets so far, a record next only to former CM the late Ramakrishna Hegde, who, holding the Finance portfolio,presented 13 budgets.