Bengaluru, Apr 21 (Reporter) Basavaraj Bommai, the former Chief Minister and BJP's Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency candidate, has sharply criticised the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government for its treatment of farmers and Dalits, accusing it of providing them with an empty offering, termed as 'Chembu' in local parlance. Bommai lambasted the government's decision to discontinue its contribution to the Kisan Sanman scheme, a central initiative providing Rs 4,000 directly to each farmer. He argued that this move has left farmers without essential financial support. Expressing grave concerns, Bommai highlighted the state government's diversion of Rs 13,000 crore, initially allocated for SCs/STs welfare. He accused the government of reallocating these funds for other guarantees, neglecting the marginalized communities intended to benefit from this allocation. Additionally, Bommai criticized the termination of the Vidya Nidhi scheme, aimed at supporting the education of children from farming families. He stressed the adverse impact of this decision on the educational prospects of the farming community's next generation. In contrast, Bommai praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare initiatives, describing them as transformative and symbolizing an upgrade from 'Chembu' to 'Akshaya Patra'. He highlighted the significant impact of Modi's policies, including grants for street vendors, Ujjwal connections, housing schemes, toilet constructions, and free rice distribution during the Covid pandemic. Switching gears, Bommai launched a scathing attack on the Congress government's financial management, accusing it of pushing the state towards bankruptcy due to poor planning and mismanagement. Highlighting tax collection and fund allocation differences between the UPA and NDA regimes, Bommai noted Karnataka's increased share under the NDA, rising from a mere four paise to Rs 13. He further criticized the government for failing to provide crop relief to drought-affected farmers and discontinuing the Kisan Sanman and Vidya nidhi schemes. Accusing the Siddaramaiah-led government of diverting Rs 13,000 crore meant for SCs/STs, Bommai emphasized the need for transparency and accountability. Responding to recent comments by Congress leader Ramesh Kumar about Modi, Bommai portrayed Modi as a force against corruption and anti-national elements while being a beacon of hope for patriots, youth, and women...////...