Mangaluru
MLC Prathap Simha Nayak has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of using caste issues to divert attention from ongoing corruption allegations and protect his position. Nayak claimed that the state government is mired in multiple scandals and criticized Siddaramaiah for exploiting caste sentiments to obscure the MUDA scam.
Nayak criticized the allotment of five acres of land to Siddhartha Vihar Trust, run by the family of Congress national president Mallikarjuna Kharge. He called it a misuse of power and expressed disappointment that Kharge, who advocates for Dalit welfare, has not prioritized the upliftment of Dalit families.
Nayak accused the government of inaction, stating that development works and public programs have stalled. He noted the administration’s failure to address farmers’ concerns affected by drought and floods and highlighted the worsening law and order situation, citing 340 reported rape cases in the past seven months.
He also criticized the government’s unfulfilled promise to increase honorariums for anganwadi workers, who have not been paid for three months. Nayak pointed to the state’s deteriorating financial health due to guarantee schemes, with unpaid water bills of Rs 110 crore and Rs 4,500 crore pending reimbursement to KSRTC. Additionally, he noted that the promise to allocate Rs 500 crore annually for the Narayana Guru Development Corporation remains unmet.
