Karnataka's debts touch 92,962 cr but still rich: BSY

Bangalore, Mar 10: Rejecting opposition parties charge that the state's headed for a debt trap under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa today said the health of finances of the State was on a firm foundation.

Yeddyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said the debt position of the state was well within the fiscal limit. He said the outlay of the State budget had been increasing every year in the last three years.

Reeling out statistics on the debt position of the State, he said the accumulated debt stood at Rs 58,434 crore during 2007-08 and it touched to Rs 92,962 crore in 2010-11.

Earlier, Yeddyurappa said opposition is blowing the issue out of proportion and he would not like to comment on it.

"The PAS and other institutions are being run by some important persons including myself, so few important industries might have given donation for this institution ... they made it very big out of it and for that I would not like to comment on anything.

"People of Shubmalla and Karnataka know very well for last ten years, we (are) running that institution, thousands and crores (millions) have got good education (from) there. So I am not at all worried about all those comments," he said.

Yeddyurappa has been accused of misusing his post and involved in allotting state-owned land plots to his kith and kin.

On Wednesday, Janata Dal (secular) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy slammed BJP for extending their support to Yeddyurappa who is facing corruption charges against him.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy said BJP is engaged in double standards as on one side they are fighting against the corrupt practices of the Congress party while on other hand they are supporting a corrupt government led by Yeddyurappa.

"BJP leaders knew about all the illegal activities of the Karnataka government. After knowing fully all the illegal activities of this Karnataka government I think BJP leaders on one side they are fighting against UPA government on corruption issue and on another side they want to protect Karnataka chief minister who is doing several illegal activities in the state," he added.

Kumaraswamy also released some statistics, which allegedly indicated the involvement of Yeddyurappa in fraudul cases.

ANI