From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 20: The Congress government has made honest and sincere attempts to fulfill all the promises made to the people in the last six months. The government has achieved a lot and a lot more needs to be done in meeting the aspirations of the people, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on completion of six months of his government and has urged the people to join the government’s efforts to realise the Karnataka Development Model and make the State a haven of peace for all communities.

In a message to the people on completion of six months of his government, the Chief Minister said one of the biggest achievement of the government is helping on an average 60 lakh women to travel free of cost in government buses with the total value of the tickets crossing Rs 97.2 crore in the six months period and distribution of Rs 2,303 crore worth of free tickets.

“As the Chief Minister of Karnataka, it brings me immense pride to mark the completion of six months of our government's tenure. In this short span, we have been steadfast in our commitment to empower the people of Karnataka and craft a sustainable and progressive future for our state,’’ he said.

Siddaramaiah said the State’s governance model is a testament to this commitment. It is a model that intertwines the welfare of people with holistic development.

“We have introduced pioneering guarantee schemes that have directly impacted lives. The Shakthi scheme, providing free bus travel for women, is not just a travel subsidy; it's an investment in women's empowerment and mobility. Similarly, the Gruha Jyothi and Anna Bhagya schemes have lightened the financial burden of countless households, ensuring that basic needs like electricity and food are not a luxury but a right.,’’ he said.

He also said: “The Gruha Lakshmi scheme has been a groundbreaking step in supporting women who head BPL families, ensuring they have the financial resources to lead their families with dignity. The Yuva Nidhi scheme, offering unemployment allowances, is a safety net for our youth, sustaining their dreams and ambitions during challenging times.’’

The Chief Minister said the unwavering stand against corruption was central to the State’s governance. We have taken decisive steps to reduce corruption and initiated thorough investigations in various cases. This commitment to transparency and accountability is reshaping the government's relationship with its people, fostering trust and confidence.

“As we step into the future, our focus remains steadfast on creating a Karnataka that is inclusive, progressive, and a beacon of development. We are committed to building a state that not only meets the immediate needs of its people but also lays the foundation for a prosperous future,’’ he said thanking the people of Karnataka for their unwavering faith in our vision and promise to continue working tirelessly to make Karnataka a model state in India.

BJP can never be trusted: CM

The Chief Minister, who flew to Koppal and Vijayapura districts, said opposition BJP, which was ‘’totally rejected by the people in assembly polls’’ can never be trusted as it has never kept its promises in the State or in Delhi.

Pointing out that BJP leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J P Nadda including State leaders, had vehemently opposed the Congress government’s guarantee schemes and had gone to the extent of saying it will bankrupt the State’s economy. “But now these same leaders are offering similar guarantees in the five States facing assembly polls and the Prime Minister terms the BJP guarantees as ‘Modi Guarantees’. The voters know the reality and will never trust them,’’ he claimed.

Terming JDS leader and former Chief Minister as ‘electricity thief’, who has paid the penalty to BESCOM for illegally drawing power from the street electricity poles for his residence, has ‘no moral right’ to speak against his son and former MLA Dr Yatindra.

“He (Kumaraswamy) has not produced a shred of evidence except some video recording in which he claims cash for postings and transfers was discussed while in reality it was his son speaking to him about CSR funds for the development of government schools in the Varuna assembly constituency,’’ Siddaramaiah said and claimed that ‘under Kumaraswamy rule amassing wealth through transfers and postings is widely known’ and therefore there is no justification for his baseless charges.