Bengaluru, July 4 (IANS) The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday criticised the governance of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who completed one month in office, describing his administration as a “government of announcements”.

It can be noted that CM Shivakumar completed one month at the office on July 3.

Responding to questions from reporters on the completion of one month of the Shivakumar-led government, Union Minister and JD-S leader Kumaraswamy criticised the month-old government led by Chief Minister Shivakumar, alleging that it had failed to implement any of the promises it had announced and had remained only a “government of announcements”.

Kumaraswamy also questioned the Karnataka government’s achievements.

“What achievement has the state government made? What has it actually accomplished? It has only made announcements,” he said.

Referring to the Karnataka government’s announcement of creating 76,000 jobs, Kumaraswamy questioned the progress made so far.

“They (Karnataka government) announced 76,000 jobs. Have they told you (people) where that recruitment process stands? Have they informed the people about its status? The announcement has been made, but not a single promise has been implemented in the past one month,” the Union Minister alleged.

Union Minister Kumaraswamy also referred to the state government’s reported announcement of providing Rs 10 lakh to Congress-led ‘Bharat Jodo’ workers at the panchayat level, questioning the state government’s priorities.

Claiming that the state government was facing a financial crunch, Kumaraswamy alleged that instead of focusing on governance, it was looking for ways to raise money from the public.

“The government has no money. It is busy thinking about how to pick the pockets of the people and extract money from them,” he alleged.

He also claimed that while the state government had failed to implement welfare measures, it was quick to launch large projects involving significant expenditure.

“If there are big programmes and projects involving huge amounts of money, they are busy laying foundation stones for them,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, union Minister Kumaraswamy described the Shivakumar-led state government’s performance in its first month as that of a “government of announcements”, alleging that it had failed to translate its promises into action.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the month-old government led by Chief Minister Shivakumar, alleging that while the Chief Minister had fulfilled his political ambition, the aspirations of the people of Karnataka had been shattered.

In a statement, LoP Ashoka described the Karnataka government as “DKS – Disaster of Karnataka’s Success”, and said Chief Minister Shivakumar had finally realised his dream of becoming the Chief Minister after “pleading, lobbying, and waiting at the doors of the Congress high command in Delhi”.

“Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, your political dream may have come true. But within just one month, the dreams and expectations of crores of Kannadigas have been completely shattered,” he said.

Calling the Congress government the “biggest disaster” for Karnataka’s progress, LoP Ashoka alleged that the state, once regarded as progressive, was witnessing administrative failure under the new state government.

Listing what he described as the state government’s failures, the BJP leader claimed that farmers were facing severe hardships, including long waits for fertilisers, water scarcity, the threat of drought, and anxiety over land acquisition.

“The food provider (farmers) has been reduced to the condition of a beggar on his own land under your administration,” he alleged.

LoP Ashoka also claimed that the state government’s promise of recruitment had remained unfulfilled and that no meaningful employment opportunities had been created for the state’s youth.

He also alleged that women no longer felt safe due to rising crime and deteriorating law and order, while accusing the state government of casting suspicion on beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme in the name of verification.

The Leader of the Opposition also alleged that rising prices, increased taxes, and higher daily expenses had burdened poor and middle-class families.

“This is not a guarantee government; it is a government of loot,” he claimed.

LoP Ashoka also accused the state government of creating uncertainty for businesses, alleging that investors were shifting to neighbouring states due to policy uncertainty and an alleged commission-based system.

Referring to Bengaluru, the LoP said the city continued to suffer from severe traffic congestion, pothole-ridden roads, and poor urban planning, with no visible solutions from the state government.

“The people cannot see governance anywhere. What they see is only false propaganda and corruption,” he alleged.

BJP leader Ashoka said that if the Karnataka government could disappoint the entire state within just 30 days, there was growing concern among Kannadigas about what Karnataka’s condition would be if it continued in office for the next two years.

Addressing the Chief Minister Shivakumar directly, the BJP leader said, “Your dream of occupying the Chief Minister’s chair has come true. But the dreams, aspirations, and expectations of the people of Karnataka have been completely disappointed.”

–IANS

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