K'taka: Cong criticism on coalition govt as childish

Hubli, Apr 23: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yadiyurappa today dubbed as ''childish'' the Congress criticism on the performance of coalition government and the Vikas Yatra undetaken by BJP.

Talking to newsmen here he said the comments from the Congress leaders was a shock reaction to the achievements of the government and the response the Vikasa Yatra had received from the people.

Taking a dig at Karnataka Pradesh congress committee chief Mallikarjun Kharge's statement that there was no point in earmarking funds in the budget without the funds being properly spent, he said.

''We have implemented 95 per cent of the 2006-07 budget and the revenue growth was 107.5 per cent''. Such performance were never reported in the past as the Congress had ''always deceived the people with false promises'' he said adding that the JDS-BJP government was implementing the promises it had made.

Asserting that the coalition government in the state would complete 40 months, Mr. Yediyurappa said the congress was afraid of loosing its vote bank among certain sections of the society, which it had taken for granted deceiving it with false promises.

Replying to a question, the deputy chief minister said the government was ready to provide required funds for development of Hubli airport into an international standard airport. Permission has already been granted for acquisition of 600 acres. Plans were also afoot to start airports at Bijapur, Gulbarga and Shimoga under Public-Private-Participation (PPP) and the tender process has already begun.

Mr. Yediyurappa announced an immediate assistance of Rs.50 lakh for computerisation and preparation of CDs of senior Journalist Patil Puttappa's articles in 'Prapancha' weekly. He said he had called on ailing Patil Puttappa at his residence, where Mr Patil sought an assistance of Rs.One crore for the purpose.

Defending his announcement of programmes after presenting the budget in the state legislature, Mr Yediyurappa said there was nothing unconstitutional in it.

BJP state President Sadananda Gowda, who was also present came down heavily on the congress leaders for criticising his party's 'Vikasa' yatra and clarified that it was meant for creating awareness amongst the people on the achievements of the coalition government and to take the programmes of the government to the people. Yatra was not intended for party campaign in view of elections to municipal corporations and bodies.

He said the present Yatra would end on April 24 after touring most of the districts except four districts, which will be covered in the second phase of the yatra. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani would participate in the yatra on the final day.

UNI