Congress-led State government has no ‘positive’ achievements to highlight, says C. T. Ravi

Senior BJP leader and MLC C. T. Ravi on Saturday questioned the Congress-led State government celebrating 1,000 days of its administration, stating that the government has no “positive” achievements to highlight.

The 1,000 days of its administration is marred by “negative” developments covering scams, corruption and deterioration in law and order, he alleged.

Addressing press persons, Mr. Ravi, a former minister, asked, “Is the Congress government celebrating its corruption, scams and rise in prices of essential commodities?”

He said B. Nagendra, who was minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare, was arrested in connection with the multi-crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd. and Congress MLA from Karwar Satish Sail was arrested in connection with a money laundering case. The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association has gone on record that the government owes ₹ 31,000 crores to contractors. Tussle between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister over the leadership has become an order of the day. Chief Minister’s wife Parvathi returned 14 sites to Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in connection with the irregularities in the allotment of MUDA sites. “Is the Congress government celebrating all these developments?,” Mr. Ravi asked.

The MLC said that the government hiked the milk prices, power and water tariff. Prices of sowing seeds and revenue documents were also hiked. About two lakh government jobs are lying vacant. “Such being the case, why is the government celebrating 1,000 days of its administration,” he asked.

Criticising the government for according Cabinet rank to 54 chairpersons of various Boards and Corporations, Mr. Ravi alleged that the government has no funds to supply medicines to government hospitals. He said after the government introduced ‘Shakthi’ scheme, the frequency of government buses has reduced. The scheme has weakened the state-owned transport corporations. “The government buses have now become pushing models,” he alleged.

To a question, the MLC said that the arrest of BJP MLA and former minister Byrathi Basavaraj is politically motivated. “He has been targetted in a murder case without any evidence,” Mr. Ravi alleged.

Asked whether former Udupi MLA K. Raghupathi Bhat and former minister K. S. Eshwarappa, who have been sacked from the BJP on the charges of anti-party activity, Mr. Ravi said that “time will decide it.” He said the government should show its will to hold local body elections in the State. If the local body elections are not held, the local bodies will face the risk of losing grants of 15th Finance Commission, the MLC said.