Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has denied admitting to any financial crisis in the state government, countering earlier reports that quoted him from a public event in Badami, Bagalkot. “I never said the government has no money. Who said that? I myself have clarified it,” he said.
Reiterating that the state is not facing any financial shortage, Parameshwara asserted that there are enough resources to fund all development activities. “Even in my speech, I said we have no shortage of funds for anything. An action plan of 50 crore is being prepared for every constituency,” he explained.
Funds available but delays are there
He acknowledged that while the funds are available, procedural delays might occasionally occur. “There is no financial crunch, but sometimes there could be a delay in fund release,” he insisted.
According to him, detailed action plans amounting to Rs 50 crore are being drawn up for each Assembly constituency. “DPR (detailed project report) has to be prepared…estimates have to be made… Delays can happen in those stages,” he said.
Parameshwara admitted that such procedural delays may cause dissatisfaction among legislators, leading to spontaneous remarks. “MLAs may have expressed frustration over delays in grants. When one feels disappointed, such words might slip out at times,” he said.
The controversy stems from comments Parameshwara reportedly made on Monday during a public event, where he was quoted as saying: “We don’t have money, even Siddaramaiah doesn’t have funds now. We’ve already given everything to the people in the form of rice, dal, and oil, yes even oil.”