Siddaramaiah steals the show with #KiviMeleHoova protest on day of Karnataka Budget

Congress MLA’s attend budget session with flowers on ears with a symbolic representation that budget is to keep flowers on the public of Karnataka.

As Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai began presenting the 2023-34 budget in the state Legislative Assembly, it was Opposition leader Siddaramaiah who became cynosure of all eyes. In a peculiar protest against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Siddaramaiah was seen with a flower tucked behind his right ear, alleging that the saffron party has cheated people and made them fools by not fulfilling promises from the previous budget and the 2018 manifesto.

Bommai, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented his second, and his government's last, budget before the upcoming state elections, scheduled for May this year.

Karnataka Congress calls it #KiviMeleHoova, meaning 'flower on the ear', which symbolically represents that someone has been fooled. The Kivi mele hoova protest meant that CM Bommai, who has failed to implement most announcements of previous year's Budget, presents the Karnataka budget for 2023-24.

Other Congress leaders were also seen participating in this unique protest.

The Congress and Siddaramaiah have often targeted the Bommai government for failing to fulfill even 10 per cent of the 600-odd promises made in 2018. The Congress, he claimed, had met 158 of 165 promises given in 2013.

Bommai said his government would present an 'action taken report'. "We will give a report about all that during the budget, what we said, what we have done. We will give an action taken report," he was quoted by news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Bommai, in the budget, announced an increase in the limit of interest-free short-term loan given to farmers from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh from the coming financial year.

This would ensure availability of hassle-free and need-based loan facility for making necessary preparation for farm-related activities, Bommai, who also holds the finance portfolio, said presenting the 2023-34 budget in the state Legislative Assembly.

''This year, loan of Rs 25,000 crore will be distributed to more than 30 lakh farmers,'' he said.

A 'majestic' temple dedicated to Lord Ram will be built in Ramadevara Betta of Ramanagara district, the Chief Minister said.

He also announced 'Shrama Shakthi' scheme that would provide financial assistance of Rs 500 per head every month to landless women farm labourers through direct benefit transfer (DBT).