BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra speaking during the inauguration of B.S. Yediyurappa Kalyan Mantap in Maradi Nagalapur village of Belagavi district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

The former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is not just a leader of any one community. It is wrong to limit his influence to the Lingayat community, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra said at Maradi Nagalapur village in Belagavi district on Sunday.

Mr. Yediyurappa is a leader of the whole State. He is a mass leader. He has worked for the development of the State and the party all his life. In his four times as Chief Minister, he has worked for the welfare of farmers and rural poor. As Leader of Opposition, he has raised issues concerning farmers and the rural poor, Mr. Vijayendra said.

He was speaking during the inauguration of the Sri B.S. Yediyurappa Kalyan Mantap in the village. His father Mr. Yediyurappa was present.

Mr. Vijayendra said that he will walk in his father’s footsteps to strengthen the party and to raise issues of the common man in the legislature.

Mr. Vijayendra also recalled the moral support given to him by his mother Maitradevi.

BJP MP Jagadish Shettar and State party president B.Y. Vijayendra look on as the followers of the former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa felicitate him in Maradi Nagalapur village of Belagavi district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
P.K. BADIGER

Earlier, Mr. Vijayendra criticised the State Budget saying it reflects the appeasement policies of the Congress.

He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of trying to create conflict between various communities, by discriminating against some groups.

“The State Budget reserves government contracts for Muslims, which is unconstitutional. We will protest against this in the Assembly and outside and create awareness against it among the general public,” he said.

Speaking in Gadag on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the budgetary provision saying Karnataka has has reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes contractors for several years and that this facility is being extended to OBCs. Muslims are eligible for reservation as they are under OBCs in the State. He also said that the minorities are citizens of the country and that the State is committed to ensuring their welfare. Minority welfare cannot be termed appeasement, he said.

Mr. Vijayendra said that the BJP and the Janata Dal(S) are working together in the Legislature to criticise the Congress government. “It is because of our agitation that the Chief Minister has announced that the new universities will not be closed,” he added.

The BJP State president accused the Congress government of neglecting North Karnataka. Mr. Siddaramaiah has forgotten his assurance to provide ₹50,000 crore for irrigation in the Krishna basin. The State government has no money for development and MLAs are complaining against non-release of funds to their constituencies.

Mr. Vijayendra congratulated Mangesh Pawar and Vani Vilas Joshi who have been elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Belagavi. He urged them to take people from various linguistic communities along with them and develop the city.