Decline govt schemes if you want good roads: Siddu's aide

KARNATAKA Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's economic advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy on Sunday stirred a controversy by stating that roads can be built and development work taken up in rural areas only if villagers refuse to take benefits of the guarantee schemes.

- RAGHOTTAM KOPPAR @Koppal

Though he initially tried to justify saying it was said in jest, he touched upon it again in his speech, pointing out that the government spends crores on the guarantees schemes. That is the reason the government is spending money for development projects in a phased manner, he added.

Rayareddy was taking part in a school function at Rayavaniki, when he made the comment after villagers demanded better roads.