In response to the deaths of five women due to childbirth complications in Ballari, Siddaramaiah announced an increase in compensation from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh for the families of the victims. He attributed the deaths to substandard medicines and promised that action would be taken once the inquiry report was received. The CM had already suspended the Drugs Controller and blacklisted the company that supplied the IV fluids.
Siddaramaiah expressed his commitment to the people of Karnataka, stating that no conspiracy or false case could shake his resolve as long as he had their support. He also criticized the BJP and challenged Modi over his unfulfilled promises from the 2014 elections, accusing him of misleading the people with false assurances.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of spreading lies during election campaigns. Speaking at a public event in Sandur, Ballari district, organized to thank voters for electing Congress candidate Annapoorna Tukaram in the recent by-poll, Siddaramaiah criticized Modi and the BJP for making false allegations.
Siddaramaiah challenged Modi to prove the allegations that the Congress government in Karnataka had collected bribes during the Maharashtra elections, declaring that he would retire from politics if the charges were substantiated. “As expected, Modi did not respond because he could not back up his claims,” Siddaramaiah stated.
The Chief Minister also condemned BJP leader and MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy for turning Ballari into a ‘Republic of Fear’ by using money and coercion to manipulate voters. He praised the people of Sandur for rejecting such tactics and voting for development. “This victory sends a clear message about the kind of politics the people want. The BJP’s efforts to tarnish my image with false cases and propaganda have failed,” Siddaramaiah added.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also highlighted the Congress’s strength, stating that the party now has 140 MLAs, including two independents, and a strong government backed by people-friendly policies.
Siddaramaiah further reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises, including providing additional housing for the poor in Sandur, a region marked as backward. Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan announced the provision of 2,000 more houses in the constituency.