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Karnataka Congress celebrates completion of two years in government
Davengere (Karnataka), May 16
Asserting that
he would continue to lead the government for the five-year term,
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he would strive
to make the state number one in the country in socio-economic
development.
"Be rest assured that I would be the chief minister
for remaining three years and work hard to make our state number one in
growth and development," Siddaramaiah said at a huge rally here, about
260km from Bengaluru.
Organised by the party's state unit to
celebrate two years of its rule in the state, the mega convention
(sadana samavesha) drew over a lakh people, including Congress workers
and supporters from across the state.
Terming a sudden downpour
in midst of the hour-long convention in mid-summer season "auspicious"
and god's blessings, Siddaramaiah told the huge gathering that people
were happy with the government as they were able to avail and benefit
from its various welfare schemes.
"About 10 million below poverty
line families are given rice, wheat and millet at Rs.1-2 per kg and an
equal number (10 million) of boys and girls a glass (250ml) of milk free
five days a week in state-run schools across the state and 2.1 million
farmers are granted interest-free crop loans up to Rs.1-3 lakh,"
Siddaramaiah recalled, evoking loud cheers from the crowd.
Claiming
that his government was giving an efficient and corruption-free
administration unlike the scandal-ridden BJP government earlier, the
chief minister said the state was attracting investments in
manufacturing and services sectors to create jobs for thousands of
people.
Thanking the people for returning Congress to power by
electing 122 of its lawmakers in the May 2013 elections to the
225-member legislative assembly, Siddaramaiah said his government had
fulfilled about 100 of the 160 promises listed in the party's manifesto.
Listing
out the achievements of the last two years, the chief minister said the
state government would ensure development of urban and rural areas for
uniform growth across the state.
Contrary to expectations, party
vice-president Rahul Gandhi and party's state unit in-charge Digvijay
Singh did not participate in the convention.
"Both the party
leaders could not participate due to prior engagements and their busy
schedule. They have lauded our government's achievements," party's state
unit president G. Parameshwara told IANS on the margins.
Besides
cabinet ministers, party's lawmakers in assembly and parliament,
party's central leaders and former union ministers participated in the
rally, while a few of them addressed the gathering.
Owing to
model code of conduct in force for the gram panchayat polls on May 29
and June 1 across the state, the celebration has been kept low key and
confined to urban area.