DKS Hits Back at BJP Amid Row Over Budget

Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar has dismissed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) criticism of the Karnataka budget as baseless, attributing the opposition's protest to jealousy.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: Dismissing the allegations that the budget was designed to favor specific communities, he said that it serves as a model for the nation.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday in Malavalli, Shivakumar accused the BJP of attempting to divide society. "The BJP has no heart. They are trying to divide people while we are working to uplift the backward sections. Let them take medicine and reduce their hunger," he said.

He highlighted that the Congress-led state government has presented a ₹4 lakh crore budget and implemented five guarantees aimed at transforming the lives of the poor.

At a separate event in Bengaluru, Shivakumar emphasized the comprehensive nature of the budget, saying it caters to all segments of society and will set a precedent for other states. He detailed key infrastructure projects, including tunnel roads, double-deck flyovers for future Metro expansions, and the construction of 300 km of roads in stormwater drain buffer zones. "The budget has laid emphasis on Brand Bengaluru initiatives. This will help 1.4 crore Bengaluru residents," he said.