Siddaramaiah slams union ministers HD Kumaraswamy, Pralhad Joshi for not 'raising' voice for state

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday slammed union ministers H D Kumaraswamy and Pralhad Joshi for not “raising their voice” against the Centre over the reduction in the funds granted by NABARD to the state.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “Last year, NABARD had given us Rs 5,600 crore. This year, they have merely given Rs 2,340 crore – a 58% reduction. What is Kumaraswamy doing as a minister from the state? What is Joshi doing?”.  

Siddaramaiah noted that he had written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard.

He said though Sitharaman had announced Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra project in the budget, the money had not been released so far. 

Lashing out at Kumaraswamy and Joshi, the chief minister said: “We pay Rs 4.5 lakh crore tax per year to the Centre, but only get back Rs 59,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore. Let them get the funds to the state from the Centre.”