Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended his decision to allocate Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 crore for the welfare of the minority community in response to media queries at Suvarna Soudha. He emphasized that there's nothing amiss in this allocation, reaffirming his stance from a Muslim convention where he announced this funding.
In response to criticism, Siddaramaiah questioned the objections raised, stating, "What's wrong in that statement?" He clarified that his commitment to protection extends to all communities, including Muslims, dismissing claims of favoritism.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the media's selective portrayal of his statements, Siddaramaiah highlighted the broader context often overlooked by the media.
When confronted with criticism from the BJP regarding the government's focus on minority welfare rather than compensating drought-affected farmers, Siddaramaiah criticized the biased framing of questions by the media, accusing them of adding sensationalism to his statements.
He reiterated that his initial statement encompassed protection and support for all communities within the government's framework.
Siddaramaiah also mentioned a Rs 50 lakh cheque prepared for Capt M.V. Pranjal's family, emphasizing its imminent handover. Criticism had emerged over the Congress government's alleged failure to provide a respectful honorarium to Capt Pranjal's family after he was killed in a Jammu and Kashmir encounter on November 22. There was additional backlash concerning Siddaramaiah's purported forgetfulness of Capt Pranjal's name during an interview.
(With Agency Inputs)
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