Agartala: Mar 04: Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, in his address to the joint session of the Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session, highlighted several positive developments in the state, praising the government’s handling of law and order, the economy, and welfare schemes. He mentioned that the state had not faced any major law and order issues in the last 19 months, and emphasized the government’s success in managing its finances and launching ambitious welfare initiatives. He also noted that Karnataka’s income and foreign direct investment (FDI) had seen significant growth, with the state now ranked second in FDI and experiencing good GST growth.
The Governor specifically lauded the state’s progress in implementing welfare schemes, which he claimed had significantly reduced farmer suicides and alleviated inequality. He stated that over Rs 70,000 crore had been transferred for these schemes and that more than Rs 90,000 crore was being spent annually on welfare.
Gehlot also highlighted the government’s commitment to environmental protection, with legal proceedings initiated to reclaim forest land worth Rs 14,300 crore and efforts to increase the state’s forest area. He pointed out that Karnataka was working towards becoming a $1 trillion economy and that the state’s capital expenditure in the 2024-25 budget exceeded that of progressive states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
However, the address also comes amid political tensions, with the Opposition BJP criticizing the handling of police station attacks and alleging appeasement politics. As the session progresses, there are expectations of heated debates on the feasibility of the guarantee schemes and concerns about the state’s Rs 1 lakh crore loan for the 2025-26 budget. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present his 16th budget on March 7.
