BJP flays Centre for 'non-implementation' of state budget

Bangalore, Jan 21 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party today staged protests throughout Karnataka against the Centre's ''wrong policies and non-implementation'' of welfare schemes included in the 2007-08 State budget by the previous JD(S)-BJP coalition government.

Former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who led the protest in Bangalore, in a memorandum submitted to Governor Rameshwar Thakur, a copy of which was released to the press, alleged that the prices of essential commodities were skyrocketing, terrorist activities had increased in the country and the UPA Government had been soft towards their activities.

The BJP leader urged the Governor to implement welfare schemes, including 'Sandhya Suraksha', which aimed at helping senior citizens, releasing Rs 1,571 crore earmarked in the budget to tackle 'regional imbalance' and fixing Rs 1,100 as MSP per tonne of sugar cane and releasing of dues to the farmers by sugar factories.

Alleging that the Centre had been showing 'stepmotherly' treatment to the state, Mr Yeddyurappa charged it with neglecting Kannada by not according Classical Language status and sidelining locals in recruitment of group 'D' employees in Railways.

The BJP also urged the Governor to take immediate steps for fixing quota for the posts of appointment of Presidents and Vice Presidents of local bodies for which elections were held three months back.

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