Tumakuru (Karnataka), May 19 (IANS) Marking the completion of three years of the Congress government in power in Karnataka under his second term as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday inaugurated the ‘Three Years of Achievement Dedication Convention’ organised by the Tumakuru district administration and the Zilla Panchayat.

On the occasion, he also inaugurated the ‘Nava Karnataka’ development model exhibition and launched and laid foundation stones for major development works worth Rs 682 crore in Tumakuru district.

The mega convention, held under the leadership of Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the supervision of Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, was attended by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, all Cabinet ministers and MLAs.

Speaking after inaugurating the ‘Three Years of Achievement Dedication Convention’, CM Siddaramaiah said the event had been organised meaningfully and voluntarily by Parameshwara and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda.

Siddaramaiah said that the Congress government has fulfilled more than 290 promises out of the 580 assurances made in the party’s election manifesto prepared under the chairmanship of Home Minister G. Parameshwara, and assured that the remaining promises would also be implemented within the next two years.

“We have implemented more than 290 promises out of the 580 assurances included in the manifesto prepared by the committee headed by G. Parameshwara. The remaining promises will also be fulfilled in the next two years,” Siddaramaiah said.

He said the Congress government had fulfilled the five guarantee schemes immediately after assuming office and had also worked towards implementing several other promises made to the people.

“We have worked for the development of people belonging to all castes and religions. We have strengthened poor people across communities. Unlike the BJP, we did not indulge in divisive politics in the name of caste and religion,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Siddaramaiah claimed that the “Karnataka model of development” was superior to the “Gujarat model”.

“The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 35 years, but real development has not taken place there. A recent incident in Gujarat, where a landlord sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl from a poor tenant family over unpaid rent of Rs 2,500, reflects the true Gujarat model,” he claimed.

The Chief Minister also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising fuel and commodity prices.

“Before PM Modi became Prime Minister, diesel, petrol and gold prices were much lower. Today prices have skyrocketed. The poor and middle class have suffered,” Siddaramaiah claimed.

He further claimed that people who once supported Modi were now disillusioned due to inflation and unemployment.

Highlighting Karnataka’s economic performance, Siddaramaiah said the state ranked number one in per capita income and was making a significant contribution to the country’s GST collections.

“We have governed as promised. Karnataka’s per capita income is higher than the national average. Since we have delivered on our commitments, the Congress party will return to power again in the 2028 Assembly elections,” he asserted.

Quoting poet Kuvempu, Siddaramaiah said the government would continue to strengthen the vision of Karnataka as a “garden of peace for all communities” and would move forward on the path of constitutional development.

The Chief Minister also attacked the Centre over the NEET examination system, stating that the NDA government was responsible for uncertainty affecting students.

“The Central government rejected our suggestion to conduct examinations on the lines of Karnataka’s CET model and instead mishandled NEET. Promises such as creating two crore jobs annually, doubling farmers’ income and bringing back black money have not been fulfilled,” he stated.

Siddaramaiah further claimed that the BJP-RSS government had increased the country’s debt burden to Rs 220 lakh crore and accused the Centre of disturbing the peace of the nation.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, several Cabinet ministers and MLAs were present at the convention organised under the leadership of G. Parameshwara and the supervision of Krishna Byre Gowda.

–IANS

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