Ambani, Adani minting money won’t help nation, says Siddu

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday trained his guns on Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, adding that the billionaires lining their own pockets won’t benefit the country.

The tycoons are known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He made the comments at a memorial programme commemorating the late poet and Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) leader Siddalingaiah, held at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru.

“If money only makes it into the coffers of Adani and Ambani, it is not possible for the poor and the middle classes to get ahead,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that he was not a believer in an economic model wherein only the super-rich enjoy endless profits and the income gap is constantly rising.

“If the toiling masses have money in their pockets, they shall become the reason for the growth of the economy. The country is suffering because those who line the pockets of Adani and Ambani have been given power,” he said, taking a sly dig at PM Modi and the ruling BJP.

Siddaramaiah reasoned that distribution of resources was therefore necessary, justifying his many welfare schemes.

“For this reason, we have implemented schemes like Anna Bhagya (10 kgs of free rice), Shakti (free government bus travel for women), Gruha Lakshmi (Rs 2,000 to women monthly), Gruha Jyoti (under 200 units of electricity) and ensured that money reaches the pocket of the commoner.

This has greased the wheels of our economy,” he said, adding that “anti-constitution” forces in power were the opponents of equality by extension.

Siddalingaiah followers’ life threatened: CM

While showering high praise on the Dalit icon Siddalingaiah, Siddaramaiah alleged that those who had kept alive the spirit of the poet in their hearts were getting life threats.

“Those who have kept the aspirations of Siddalingaiah alive in their lives are now getting letters threatening their lives. How is that those who support the people writing these letters seized power?” the CM said.

He once again articulated his admiration for 12th century moral reformer Basavanna who Siddaramaiah said, was ahead of his time in delivering the message of “they (lower caste people) are one of ours”, adding that the message was yet to see complete implementation.