Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding businessman Gautam Adani, despite an arrest warrant issued against him in the US for fraud and bribery. Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP is not only supportive of Adani but actively defends his actions, tarnishing India’s global reputation. The Chief Minister also criticized Karnataka’s BJP MPs for their silence regarding the drastic 58% reduction in funding from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), which will severely affect the state’s farmers.
He questioned the lack of action from BJP MPs and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on the issue, asserting that their inaction speaks volumes about their priorities. He also pointed out that BJP leaders like Pralhad Joshi have defended NABARD’s decision, further proving the party’s anti-poor stance. Siddaramaiah emphasized the harm that the funding cuts will cause to farmers and stated that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has not yet acted on the matter despite being informed of its consequences. Furthermore, the Chief Minister pointed out the BJP’s historical failure to support the poor, referencing the reduction in rice distribution from 7 kg to 5 kg under their government.