CM in hurry for copied 'Anila Bhagya' just for polls: Shettar

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar charged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is implementing Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya scheme in a hurry as elections are nearing, and that too copying the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana of the Union Government.

Speaking after inaugurating a three-day 'Antyodaya' art camp organised by the BJP's art and cultural cell here on Friday, he noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced Ujjwala scheme to give the poor people accessibility to cooking gas connections, but Mr Siddaramaiah is coming with Anila Bhagya scheme only for elections and without proper preparations.

'Anna Bhagya' scheme is also a Centrally-sponsored scheme, but Mr Siddaramaiah is claiming full credit for that. For purchasing rice at a rate of Rs 32 per kg for this scheme, the Union Government is giving Rs 29 while the State Government is bearing only Rs 3, Mr Shettar noted.

Assurances

Mr Shettar assured to make efforts to establish a national memorial trust in the name of noted artist M V Minajagi, to promote art research and other activities.

Efforts would be made to renovate and develop the art gallery at Vidyanagar, which is not much being used for art-related activities now. This issue has already been discussed with elected representatives and officials of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC). The Union Government would also be urged to open a regional office of the Central Lalitakala Academy in Hubballi, Mr Shettar noted.

Recalling that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay gave an ideology and 'Antyodaya' concept for the BJP, he asked the party workers to spread information about the achievements of the party.

'Art for communication'

MP Pralhad Joshi noted that art and literature are important tools to communicate the messages to the people, and they should also be used effectively to spread information about the benefits of government schemes.

He also blamed the previous UPA government at the Centre, and stated that demonetisation, GST, Make in India, Digital India, Jan Dhan and other schemes introduced by the NDA government would contribute a lot for the development of the country in coming days.

Hubballi-Dharwad Mayor D K Chavan, BJP leaders M Nagaraj, Mahesh Tenginkai, Ramesh Paravinaikar, Arunkumar, and others were present. Artist Mahendra D was also felicitated on the occasion.

The three-day programme includes painting camp, cultural programmes, interaction, felicitation to senior artists, and drawing competition for school children.