Futile show aimed at hiding lack of achievements, says K’taka BJP on CM Shivakumar’s 100-day celebrations
Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, questioning the achievements of the government as it completed 100 days in power and accused it of spending heavily on celebrations and publicity.
“Where is the achievement? What is the government celebrating? Shame on you, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. However, one must appreciate your audacity,” Ashoka said in a statement.
He questioned the government’s decision to organise celebrations with a banquet hall, a grand stage, elaborate lighting and publicity allegedly involving crores of rupees.
“What is the purpose of such celebrations? What achievement are you celebrating? When there is not even a single major achievement to show the people, is this celebration meant to project failures as achievements?” he asked.
Ashoka alleged that the government had failed people across sections of society.
Referring to women, he alleged that beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme were being forced to wait for months for payments and visit government offices and banks repeatedly.
He alleged that the youth were facing a situation where corruption and bribery had become more important than merit in securing employment.
On education, Ashoka claimed that students were not receiving textbooks on time and that several schools had leaking and dilapidated classrooms. He also alleged that poor-quality shoes and socks supplied to students were getting damaged within a day.
Targeting the government over the drought situation, he alleged that farmers facing crop losses had received neither adequate drought relief nor a proper response from the government.
Ashoka also alleged that pension support for senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities had been reduced, while the middle class was facing the burden of rising prices of essential commodities and taxes.
Taking aim at the state capital, he said Bengaluru was witnessing pothole-ridden roads and garbage dumped along roadsides.
“You said Brand Bengaluru, but what you delivered is Broken Bengaluru,” Ashoka said.
Questioning whether these could be considered achievements of the government’s first 100 days, Ashoka said people were living in darkness while only the venue of the government’s celebration was illuminated.
“Karnataka needs the light of development. What you have given is the glare of a stage,” he said.
He alleged that the youth needed jobs but were being given advertisements, farmers needed compensation but were being given conventions, and women needed timely financial assistance but were being given publicity events.
Ashoka further alleged that the government was using elaborate lighting and publicity to hide what he described as its failures.
“You could not show achievements, so you are showing decoration. You could not show development, so you are showing lighting. You could not show governance, so you are showing extravagance,” he said.
He alleged that the government’s performance was marked by “zero work and excessive publicity” and “zero achievements and grand celebrations”, while people continued to face hardships.
Addressing Shivakumar, Ashoka said: “Karnataka did not light up, but your stage did. People’s lives did not change, but your publicity campaign shone.”
He described the 100-day celebrations as “a futile show aimed at hiding the government’s lack of achievements behind elaborate lighting” and questioned what the government was celebrating.
“What achievement is this celebration for? What achievement is this festivity for?” Ashoka asked, concluding his statement by saying the Congress government should be ashamed of itself.
