SIDDARAMAIAH Badami Rahul Gandhi Rs 10 LAKH FOR HIMA DAS Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday wondered why he was being repeatedly targeted for increasing tax on fuel.“Petrol/diesel prices have been on the rise under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. But nobody’s questioning him on the increasing fuel prices despite a drop in crude oil cost,” he said.Speaking at a programme organised by the JD(S) at its head office in Bengaluru, the CM said, “You only question me for increasing 2 per cent tax. Why not question the PM too?’’On the loan waiver, the CM said that he is pained by vendetta politics over crop loan waiver. “Let alone appreciating efforts to waive Rs 40,700 crore crop loan waiver, people are slamming and building opinion against me,” he said.Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda said also defended his son, Kumaraswamy for increasing tax on petrol and diesel. “People should understand why fuel tax is increased,” he said.Saying that the CM has been working for 18 hours a day without bothering about his health, Gowda urged people to give time for Kumaraswamy to settle down.“Kumaraswamy will also waive off weavers and Stree Shakthi Group loans in the coming days. Give him some time to settle down,’ he said. He was also critical of the Opposition members who were “breathing down the CM’s neck seeking waiver immediately”.They should realise that one needs time to mobilise additional resources required for loan waiver.Senior Congress leader and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar has come to the rescue of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Speaking to media at his residence, Shivakumar questioned Congress Legislature Party Leader Siddaramaiah’s “pressure tactics” by constantly writing letters to the CM.“He is the coordination committee chairman. How can one achieve coordination if he exert pressure by writing letters,” Shivakumar asked, referring to letters written by Siddaramaiah. The former CM has written two letters. First letter seeking to cut tax on fuel and restore foodgrain per unit under public distribution while the second one asked the CM to continue all syndicate and senate members named by his government.“It is fine if Siddaramaiah writes letter seeking funds or programmes for hisAssembly Constituency. Instead, he is exerting pressure on the CM. How can we ensure a smooth administration,’’ he asked and criticised the former CM for going public on his letter seeking cut in fuel taxes. “The CM has his limitations, we have drawn a Common Minimum Programme. One should follow this instead of creating trouble,’’ he said. On cut in rice from 7 kg to 5 kg per unit, the Congress leader said: “The CM has already stated on the floor of the Assembly that Siddaramaiah had set aside just Rs 1,000 crore for the Anna Bhagya scheme. If we have to give 7 kg, it would be an additional burden of Rs 2,500 crore.’Asked about alliance for the Mandya Lok Sabha bypoll, Shivakumar said that a decision would be taken after consulting party presidentand other senior leaders. Besides Mandya, Shivamogga and Ballari will also have by-elections as BS Yeddyurappa and B Sreeramulu got elected to the Assembly. In Mandya, JD(S) member CS Puttaraju entered the Assembly and presently serving as Minor Irrigation minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

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