Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Karnataka’s Gulbarga district on Wednesday turned out to be another occasion for accusations and counter-accusations by the Centre and state on farm loan waivers and other farmer-related policies.
PM Modi said that 12 crore farmers of the country who have 5 acres or less land all over the country will get the benefit of the recently launched Prime Minister Kisan Adhikar Nidhi.
Attacking the JD(S)-Congress combine in Karnataka over the issue of not implementing central government schemes, the PM said, “This attitude of the Congress and its supporters against the schemes for the people of the country has caused great damage.”
Prime Minister Modi also blamed the Karnataka government for farmers not getting the central government drought relief. Prime Minister Modi said that the delay in depositing the funds to farmers’ accounts directly from the Centre was only because the Karnataka government has not submitted a list of eligible candidates for the Prime Minister Kisan Adhikar Scheme.
“There are some such governments (referring to non-BJP-ruled states). They think by transferring money into the accounts of farmers, Modi will hog all limelight. To avoid this, this Karnataka government has stabbed the backs of people. This power-intoxicated Congress and remote-controlled Chief Minister (HD Kumaraswamy) so far has not given the list of eligible farmers to us. They are depriving the farmers of their right. They know that there are no middlemen as the money is to be directly credited to farmers' accounts."
He added, “Today the Jandhan account, Aadhaar number and your mobile have created such a trinity that all paths of corruption have been closed. It is now certain that if the central government sends 100 paise then the whole of 100 paise reaches the poor man’s account.”
Pitching for his party, the PM called for the re-election of the BJP government saying, “Karnataka has a 'Mazboor' government but I hope you don't want such a government in the Centre. Sometimes we have to pay a heavy price for a small mistake. The people of Karnataka must be experiencing the same.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's accusations come in the backdrop of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy's blaming the Union government for not providing any relief to farmers, whereas the state government has already waived farm loans of thousands of farmers across the state. Over the last few months, Congress and JD(S) leaders have actively campaigned against Modi and the BJP by alleging that the Prime Minister has let down farmers of Karnataka. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and former CM Siddaramaiah have also targeted Modi for not creating employment in the state as promised. Modi's speech on Wednesday, political party insiders say, was a counter to his critics.
Within hours of the speech, #ModiMattome (Modi once again) trended on Twitter, while the Congress was quick to counter using #ModiMosa (Liar Modi).
The Congress accused the BJP of failing to provide any further relief to the historically backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region. They pointed out that it was the previous Congress government that had given special status to the region through Article 371J.
.@INCIndia led UPA gave special status to Hyd-Kar region by including Art 371J in the constitution, thereby providing additional reservation & fund allocation for overall development of the region.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 6, 2019
Whereas, @BJP4India has failed miserably to provide any relief. #ModiMosa pic.twitter.com/ydty9VYr4q
The Karnataka Congress in response to the “remote control CM jibe” accused the PM to be remote controlled by rich businessmen.
ನೀವು ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳ ರಿಮೋಟ್ ಕಂಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಯೇ @narendramodi ಯವರೆ?
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 6, 2019
ರೈತರ ಸಾಲ ಮನ್ನಾ ಮಾಡಲಿಲ್ಲ,
ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ,
ಕೆಲವೇ ಕೆಲವು ಅತಿ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳ ₹ ೩.೫ ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿಗೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸಾಲ ಮನ್ನಾ ಮಾಡಿರುವಿರಿ
ಮೋದಿಯವರೆ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗೋಮುಖ ಕಳಚಿ ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಬಣ್ಣ ಬಯಲಾಗಿದೆ. #ModiMosa
Taking to Twitter, Karnataka Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge also questioned the PM over pending payments of MNREGA workers, import policy of Tur and the disparity of funds for drought relief for Maharashtra and Karnataka. He also called Wednesday's rally a damp squib.
Besides sloganeering & the regular #ModiMosa stuff, the #Kalaburagi rally turns out to be a damp squib.
— Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge) March 6, 2019
The most disappointed people will be the new entrants of BJP as they had expected a lot.
PM @narendramodi please tell #Kalaburagi :
— Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge) March 6, 2019
-Why MNREGA state payments of close to 3000 Cr is pending?
-Why is Tur being imported when it hurts the farmers of Kalaburagi?
-Why Maharashtra gets 4000 Cr & Karnataka gets 800 Cr for drought?
-Why aren’t you waiving farmers loans?
The official handle of the Karnataka CM also accused the PM of not speaking the truth. In subsequent tweets, he said, “Respected Prime Minister, I expected you to speak the truth while addressing the people at Kalyana Karnataka, the land of Sharanas who advocated Kayaka Tatva.”
He added, “Before ridiculing the initiatives of Govt of Karnataka for farmers, look into your own Govt at how the existing schemes are inaccessible to the needy. The Government of Karnataka has paid the wages of MGNREGA from December 2018, with advances from the state fund. Such pending amount, including that of previous years from Government of India, has crossed Rs. 2000 crore. Hon'ble Prime Minister should be aware that GoK has released a waiver list for 15.1 Lakh farmers for about Rs 6076 crore under the loan waiver scheme, which is being implemented transparently.”
Before ridiculing the initiatives of Govt of Karnataka for farmers, look into your own Govt at how the existing schemes are inaccessible to the needy. GoK has paid the wages of MGNREGA from Dec. 2018, with advances from the State fund.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) March 6, 2019