From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 6: Directly lambasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ‘’falsely accusing Karnataka’’ during his election speeches in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday asked BJP to be careful as wherever Modi campaigns the party has lost.

"BJP lost miserably in Karnataka despite Modi’s repeated visits to the State and even carrying out roadshows. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda have also failed to deliver,’’ he said and wanted the BJP leadership to inform why the party has not bothered to choose its opposition leader even after six months.

Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, he said there is no basis or significance to Modi’s criticism of Karnataka and whatever the Prime Minister uttered "is a pack of lies.’’

Ridiculing Modi’s claims that the ruling Congress is carrying out ‘’Operation Hasta’’ to entice BJP and JD(S) sitting as well as former MLAs, Siddaramaiah said the BJP and JD(S) leaders are joining the Congress as they are disillusioned with their own parties and believe in the Congress ideology and leadership.

Siddaramaiah said Modi’s criticism on the longevity of the chief minister in Karnataka was totally baseless as there are no problems within the ruling Congress party.

"We are united. The prime minister has attacked the Congress merely for the sake of criticising,’’ he said.

"Modi’s criticism of Congress party in Karnataka during in his election speeches in Madhya Pradesh proves the bankruptcy of BJP and their fear of losing in the assembly polls,’’ he said challenging the prime minister to first have an opposition leader for BJP in Karnataka as elections were held in April and the counting was done in the beginning of May.

The chief minister said the very fact no less a person than the prime minister is levelling charges in his election speeches about Karnataka chief minister and deputy chief minister ‘’looting the state’’ speaks volumes for BJP’s ‘’political bankruptcy.’’

"If Modi is so concerned about corruption and looting of funds, why no action
was taken when he received complaints of 40% commission charges against his own party government in Karnataka,’’ he asked and wanted to know why the prime minister remained silent all along.

He said the prime minister must know that all the investing agencies in Delhi are under his direct control and he should have ordered probes into the allegations.

The Centre is harassing its political opponents but is silent on the misdeeds by BJP leaders, he said.

He also lashed out at JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and urged him to go to Delhi with his BJP friends to ensure that the Centre released funds for drought relief works in the State.

Almost the entire State is facing drought conditions with 223 out of the 236 taluks being declared as drought affected. The Central team has come and visited different parts of the State to assess the drought situation. The government has submitted memoranda seeking drought relief of Rs 17,300 crore.

"The Centre has done nothing and the BJP-JD(S) leaders are planning to tour the State. What are they going to do? Don’t they have faith in the Modi government’s Central team?’’ he asked.

7-hr daily power supply to IP sets

The chief minister, who spoke to the media after a review of the functioning of the State’s Energy Department, said the Escoms have been directed to ensure daily power supply for seven hours for all irrigation pumpsets of farmers.

Compared to 2022, the average electricity demand in 2023 has risen by 43% with 15,978 MW demand was recorded in the month of October. At the same time, electricity consumption has increased to 45% than last year and agricultural usage has gone up to 119% from 55%.

Percentage of usage has increased from 9 to 14% in other sectors. This increase is due to lack of rainfall, early usage of IP sets and economic recovery post Covid-19.

The production of Raichur and Bellary thermal power plants has increased since the last progress review meeting. Electricity is being procured from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the chief minister said mentioning that under Section 11, orders are issued not to supply electricity to other states, and electricity is being procured.

In this way, the power distribution has come back to normal. Nodal officials are constantly monitoring the situation. Farmers coming under purview of various power supply companies, continuous power supply is being provided for a five to seven hours, according to their needs, he said.

600 MW/hr and 14 million units per day are required to provide power to IP sets across the state for a continuous seven hours.

The chief minister said it has been decided in today's meeting to provide electricity for seven hours every day. The state may require additional Rs. 1500 crore for this purpose. This expenditure will be met by savings in grants and reallocation of funds.

Steps are being taken to provide power supply to IP sets from solar power source (Solarisation of EIP Feeders) during next year. The tender process is in progress and by next year, this will facilitate to provide electricity to farmers during the day time, he added.