‘I am neither a snail, nor a bull’

Jun 28, 2013

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Bengaluru: Lashing out at his detractors who had ridiculed him for going back on his own statements, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah quipped that he was neither a snail nor a bull who would take shelter in its shell or ‘bulldoze’ anyone.
Speaking at a Meet the Press programme organised by Bangalore Reporters' Guild and Press Club of Bangalore, Siddaramaiah claimed that he was quoted out of context on several statements including the one on the government considering supplying cheap liquor to the poor.
“As opposition leader, I had spoken about black marketing of liquor in villages. I had suggested to the government to provide liquor at lower prices to the poor. When I became chief minister, some mediapersons asked me about this and I said I would examine its feasibility. I am not the one to promote the drinking habit,'' he said.
“At another juncture, mediapersons asked me if the government was willing to allot wine shop licenses to unemployed youth to which I said I would consider it if it came to that level. We have not yet decided to give license to more wine shops,'' he said.
When asked about his stand on the welfare of backward classes, Siddaramaiah said: “I am from a backward community. But, I am the chief minister of Karnataka and not of a particular community.''
Giving details about his visit to Delhi, the CM said the Planning Commission had given its consent for a Rs 47,500 crore plan, which is 11.6 per cent more than what was allotted previously. “We have requested the Planning Commission and the railway ministry to expedite pending railway projects so that cost escalation is checked. The coal ministry has given his consent to provide coal linkages to Karnataka’s power projects,'' he said.
Listing his agenda for the next five years, Siddaramaiah said that garbage disposal in Bengaluru will be streamlined within the next six months. “I have held a meeting with the officials and gave them a deadline for proper disposal of city garbage. The officials have assured me that they will come up with a foolproof system for garbage clearance,'' he said.

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