Reddy welcomes Modi to city with litany of questions

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Ramalinga Reddy sought to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the city on Friday by directing a barrage of questions at him.

The questions ranged from the supposed inadequacy of the State and Central governments in the handling of the flooding in the state to failure to implement schemes, lack of jobs created and the PM’s silence on Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) president Kempanna’s claims that government departments were charging a cumulative commission of 40 percent.

This was contrary to Modi’s lofty promise ‘Na kahunga, Na kahne dunga’ (will not usurp, nor let others usurp), Reddy argued. The former minister posed 15 questions in all to the PM.

Reddy asks PM Modi...

The state has been experiencing flooding for the past four years. You did not hover anywhere near Karnataka then. Now, suddenly, you remember the state...

The total loss was Rs 93,648 cr due to flooding. How much compensation did the state receive from the Centre? Houses, bridges, agricultural fields and horticultural orchards had suffered immense damage.

Why did you fail to implement schemes such as the Smart City project, Jal Jeevan Mission in the state?

The promise of two crore jobs, and the goal of doubling farmers’ incomes not fulfilled. Why?

Karnataka paid a hefty sum in Goods and Services Tax (GST) but there was a delay in disbursing funds to the state from the Centre. Why?

How many families of Covid victims in the state have you  compensated?

‘Come travel on potholed roads,’ says AAP

AAP Karnataka took the opportunity to welcome Modi by bringing up the issue of crumbling infrastructure in the city. AAP state president Prithvi Reddy joked that the PM should visit the city more often if BJP MLAs are to be put to work.

The fledgling party also seeks to launch the campaign ‘Nammaligo Banni Modi’ (Come visit us as well, Modi), which seeks to mock the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP’s) covering up of potholes whenever Modi visits.