Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Slams BJP Over Corruption, Modi’s “Empty Promises” Remarks

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing his remarks about “empty promises” and directing attention towards what he described as the “disastrous” legacy of the BJP in Karnataka.

In a post on social media platform X, Siddaramaiah called out the Prime Minister to review the BJP’s governance track record in Karnataka before questioning the Congress.

Siddaramaiah Accuses BJP of 40% Corruption Commission

Highlighting his government’s efforts, Siddaramaiah noted, “We are fulfilling every promise we made to our people, implementing all five guarantees with a budget exceeding ₹52,000 crore, and an additional ₹52,903 crore in capital outlay to build Karnataka’s future.” He alleged that BJP’s tenure left Karnataka burdened with a “40 per cent commission corruption,” resulting in substantial resource losses that could have been used to improve the state.

The Chief Minister further emphasized that his administration is redirecting funds previously siphoned through corrupt practices to benefit the people. Siddaramaiah stated, “What was your achievement here? Empowering corrupt practices, leaving Karnataka debt-ridden, and using propaganda to cover up failures?”

Modi’s Governance and Debt Criticized

Siddaramaiah also criticized Modi’s governance at the national level, pointing out India’s projected debt. He said, “Under your watch, India’s debt is projected to reach ₹185.27 trillion by FY25—56.8% of GDP,” calling this a “burden on every Indian’s back.”

The Chief Minister expressed frustration over what he claimed is Karnataka’s unfair financial treatment by the central government. Despite Karnataka’s substantial contribution to the Union’s revenue, he argued that the BJP-led Centre has starved the state of its rightful funds, which affects its ability to implement welfare schemes.

“For every rupee Karnataka contributes, it only receives 13 paise back,” Siddaramaiah alleged, describing this as “outright exploitation” rather than cooperative federalism.

Congress Leadership’s Advice on Fiscal Responsibility

As Congress in Karnataka implements its promises, Siddaramaiah responded to guidance from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who cautioned state leaders to stay within budget constraints. “Don’t go for saying five, six, 10 or twenty guarantees. Give guarantees according to your state budget…If you give guarantees beyond your budget, you will become bankrupt,” Kharge advised, warning against unsustainable financial promises.

Siddaramaiah’s comments underline the escalating tension between Karnataka’s Congress-led state government and the BJP-led central government, particularly on matters of resource allocation and governance.