Karnataka MLAs have proposed a salary hike following the installation of luxury recliners and massage chairs in the Vidhan Soudha.
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00:00Good evening and welcome, you're watching the NewsTrack, I'm Rahul Kanwal.
00:05The government in Karnataka is struggling to pay its bills, fulfil its guarantees, yet
00:11MLAs in the state assembly want massage chairs, they want recliners, they want a club and
00:17they even want a pay hike.
00:21What explains the completely warped priorities of Karnataka's MLAs?
00:27Is the Congress government in Karnataka failing to provide a model of governance which can
00:33rival and match and probably even beat the BJP?
00:37Because that was the real idea.
00:38In Karnataka, Telangana show a different form of government, prove your model of governance.
00:45Completely the converse seems to be happening week after week after week and that's my top
00:50focus on the NewsTrack.
00:52Recliners, massage chairs, a club and a demand for salary hike, money for luxury upgrades.
01:18But cash crunch for citizens.
01:26Netas, splurge, Karnataka suffers, that is a big focus on the NewsTrack.
01:35Let me take you through the headlines.
01:42Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde resigns after his aide is accused of murdering the
01:47Sarpanch of Bir.
01:49Munde cites health grounds for his resignation.
01:52Brutal details of torture emerge in the charge sheet.
01:59Congress's Imran Masood praises Aurangzeb, asks how can a king who ruled for 48 years
02:05be cruel?
02:06A police complaint filed against SP's Abu Azmi for his praise of Aurangzeb.
02:10Azmi apologises after outbreak.
02:16Yogi Adityanath's big sambhal declaration says we should get what is ours as the Mandir
02:22mosque rao rages on.
02:29Netas vs Abhinetas in Karnataka, actor Rashmika Mandana rejects Congress's claim of being
02:35invited for the state film festival.
02:37Kangana Ranaut picks out after D.K. Shivkumar's warning says actors are no one's property.
02:45Days after the White House blew up Donald Trump, he pauses aid to Ukraine after warning
02:50that he won't put up with Zelensky.
02:53Ukrainian president says he's trying his best to mend ties with the US.
02:57Recliners, massage chairs, demand for a club and a salary hike are some of the luxury upgrades
03:10MLAs in the Karnataka assembly are seeking.
03:14Chief Minister Siddharam Iyer has said he is considering the demand for a hike in MLA
03:18salary.
03:19But the question is where will the money come from?
03:22The Karnataka Sarkar is already struggling to fulfill its poll guarantees.
03:26Is the cash crunch in the state only for its citizens and not for its netas?
03:36After plush recliners, massage chairs and high end office renovations were cleared from
03:45Karnataka MLAs, the legislators are now demanding a salary hike.
03:50Citing rising living cost and financial strain.
03:54Some MLAs, they are requesting to hike salaries.
04:04They have to travel in their consciences.
04:08They have to travel in their consciences.
04:12Expenditure will be more.
04:16Heading out of the Siddharam Iyer government, the opposition denied demanding salary hikes
04:20or recliners.
04:24What's happening in the state government and in the Vidhan Sadha is a very wrong thing.
04:28None of the MLAs, we are not asking for a raise in our salary, nor couches, nor sofa.
04:35We are just asking them, first you pay the salaries of the PAs of MLAs that you have
04:40not been paying properly.
04:41They have provided 6 to 7 recliners.
04:44We are 224.
04:46You can't provide for 224.
04:49See, this is not necessary in the launch to provide recliners for MLAs for an attendance
04:55reason.
04:58See, we are not coming here for relax.
05:00We are coming here for a debate and participate.
05:02So, it is not right.
05:05Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K.
05:07Shivakumar distanced himself from the controversy.
05:11Salaries of MLAs sir, is the plan to hike the salaries?
05:15I don't know.
05:16I don't know about it.
05:18Chief Minister Siddharam Iyer has agreed to the revision of salaries and assured he would
05:23review the matter.
05:24The MLAs in Karnataka take home around 1.86 lakh per month as of now.
05:32The Siddharam Iyer government has also approved a proposal of 20 crore rupees for construction
05:37of constitutional club for the MLAs.
05:40The splurge for MLAs comes even as Karnataka government battles fund crunch and it is resorting
05:46to multiple price hikes in the state.
05:50The Buruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has issued notices to 258 government buildings
05:56including Vidhan Saudown pending property tax payments.
06:00Some departments have reportedly defaulted on property tax payments for the last 17 years
06:06with dues running into crores.
06:08The Sagai Raj Bureau report India Today.
06:16The financial situation in Karnataka is quite dire.
06:20At this time outstanding liabilities stand at 22.7% of the state's GDP and your total
06:29liabilities of 5,97,618 crores.
06:32So this is amongst the highest anywhere in the country and massive public debt, lots
06:37of liabilities and the government already struggling to meet its own poll guarantees.
06:43What then explains this big increment for MLAs?
06:48To talk about this I am joined first in this broadcast by Santosh Lad.
06:51He is the Karnataka Labour Minister, one of the top leaders of the Congress in the state.
06:55With us also is Harish Bijur, one of Bangalore's best known brands strategist.
07:01I have Sandeep Anuradhan, he is a citizen activist and later for a Congress perspective
07:07I'll have Lavanya Balal and Vishwa will give a Karnataka BJP perspective.
07:12But let's spend some time with Santosh Lad.
07:14I'll get into the debate in just a moment Mr. Lad.
07:17But can you explain why you think that it is justified at this time for the Karnataka
07:24government to even consider a salary hike for MLAs?
07:29What's the logic?
07:30What's the thinking?
07:31Why do you think Karnataka's MLAs need to be paid more money?
07:38See, if MLAs have put the demand, so definitely the government, the CM will definitely look
07:43into the matter.
07:45But assuming that even if there is a demand of increase of MLAs, whatever the perks they
07:49are asking, it is not going to cost much according to me.
07:54All 224 MLAs as well as the legislative council members, all that should not be a huge chunk
08:01of money.
08:02But if it has not been reviewed for quite a long time, if the increase has not been
08:05there, so they must be asking for it and absolutely it is left to the government to get into the
08:12matter and see how it has to be increased.
08:13What kind of pay hike do you think is justified?
08:16I have read different kinds of percentages, some suggesting that at least a 25% pay hike
08:22going up potentially even to 50%, what kind of increment do you think is justified for
08:26MLAs at this time?
08:30And I will honestly speaking, I have not really applied my mind on to it.
08:35So, there will be definitely a committee, there will be people, lot of experts will
08:39be there and there will be definitely decision taken wisely on that.
08:43No, but the problem is that there seems to be a trend and a pattern here.
08:47First you went and got some recliners, then you went and got some massage chairs.
08:51Just in terms of optics, given the state of Karnataka's public finances at this moment
08:57and those graphic points are up on the screen right now.
09:01You know, Karnataka is struggling.
09:03You are struggling to meet your promises, your guarantees, you are trying to find new
09:06ways of mobilizing revenue.
09:08At that time, you know, these massage chairs, recliners, they just seem to be sending a
09:13terrible message.
09:18Rahul, it's a very good debatable point, you know, how you use this, you know.
09:22For example, now how you are getting this debate on to this television is more important.
09:28Now, for example, for a massage chair, what you are talking about is definitely a, you
09:35know, according to me, it may not go in a good light.
09:39Definitely it could not go in a good light.
09:41But still the way it has been debated is a one question mark according to me.
09:44Number two, you are asking about the Karnataka financial, physical deficit of government
09:49of Karnataka.
09:50We are well within 3%, okay.
09:52We are well within 3%.
09:54Our borrowings are well within 25%.
09:57Yes, we have got a little higher physical deficit and last budget we had a minus revenue
10:04is because we had a huge program where 70% of Karnataka population through DBT, we are
10:11paying around about 60,000 crores.
10:14So this is a nutshell I want to give.
10:16And according to NITIAYA report, I repeat, according to NITIAYA report, Karnataka stands
10:21in number three in ranking.
10:23The why is there are five parameters which the NITIAYA reports to see to that how the
10:28money has been, you know, used for the programs and various other four parameters which are
10:32there.
10:33Based on to that, Karnataka stands number three.
10:35The reason is in when it comes to income tax, we are number two.
10:38When it comes to GST, we are number two.
10:40When it comes to FDI, we are number two.
10:42So overall if you see, there are other states who have crossed 3%, that is UP consistently
10:48has crossed 3%, Bihar has crossed 3%, MP has crossed 3%.
10:52In spite of not giving all these subsidies, what we are giving up to 60,000 crores.
10:57So it depends on how you want to take other state and ask Karnataka about, makes sense
11:02according to me.
11:03No, but you sidestepped the question.
11:06Everything is relative to the past in Karnataka.
11:09You know, how UP or Bihar is doing.
11:11You know, you are not surely going to compare Karnataka with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
11:15Karnataka is one of India's most prosperous states.
11:17In the last few months, you have increased public transport bus fares.
11:23You have increased fuel costs for petrol.
11:26You have increased milk prices in Nandini.
11:29You have increased excise duty on alcohol.
11:32You have increased stamp duty and registration fees because you are trying to find ways of
11:37mopping up money.
11:38So there is a very strong public message here.
11:41And this is what you are forcing your citizens, your voters to do.
11:45And your MLAs want an increment.
11:47They want massage chairs and they want recliners.
11:53Now you kept on talking about massage chair.
11:55I come where you are coming from.
11:57So forget for a time being massage chairs.
11:59Okay, for time being.
12:00Okay.
12:01So now how you want to talk about massage chairs is, I'll leave it up to you.
12:05When it comes to public transport, today 50% of women who are in Karnataka, they go free.
12:10So technically 50% or more than 60% of women who are, especially 100% women who are traveling
12:16in Karnataka bus transport, they are virtually free.
12:19So you cannot say we are increasing the rest.
12:22Definitely because last six, seven years there was no increase.
12:25Gradually there's an increase.
12:26When we compare to other states, our state, the number of buses which we are playing,
12:30when you compare to Maharashtra, when you compare to Kerala or any other states,
12:34Karnataka is the only state where we have got more than 25,000 buses playing around.
12:39We haul around about more than a crore people per day.
12:42At a larger state, being Karnataka, being smaller than Maharashtra,
12:46we take care of people who are playing in our state buses.
12:49So out of which 50% go free.
12:51See, it depends on how you want to compare and make a decision out of it.
12:54So now you just want to choose and say we're increasing.
12:57Yes, we're increasing only for the 50%, not for the other 50%.
13:00It's free.
13:01It's a valid one which I'm talking about.
13:03Because that's not it.
13:04You've increased water tariffs in Karnataka.
13:06You've increased medical fees at government hospitals.
13:09You've increased property registration stamp duty by 0.5%.
13:14The point I'm making is you're making citizens pay more.
13:17Whereas MLAs are asking for a club.
13:20They say, oh, we get very tired, which is why we want to sit back.
13:23We do a lot of work.
13:25We stay up till 1 a.m., which is why we think we deserve a salary hike.
13:28I'm talking about what you're putting citizens through versus what you're expecting for yourself.
13:33Don't you think there's anything amiss here?
13:38No, that's why I said no.
13:40When you compare with other states, then only we'll come to know how Karnataka is doing.
13:43But why are you comparing Karnataka with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar?
13:46Sir, Karnataka should not be compared with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
13:49No, no, no.
13:50You are taking…
13:51No, no.
13:52Listen, Kunal.
13:53No, I'll tell you.
13:54We are not going to compare.
13:55But the way you are telling particularly about Karnataka, this every state, every central government, state government does increases.
14:01Every state does increase, Rahul.
14:03Why only Karnataka does it?
14:05Why Maharashtra has not done?
14:06Every state does it.
14:08We have to accept it.
14:09We have to be honest in saying that, yes, we have increased.
14:11But what is the percentage we have increased?
14:13Are we discussing on it?
14:15Are we discussing what is the percentage we have increased?
14:18You said we have increased in the government hospitals.
14:21How much we have increased?
14:22So you have to compare.
14:23Yes, government has to run.
14:24How will the government run ultimately?
14:25How will the government run ultimately, Rahul?
14:29There has to be an increase.
14:30Sir, it's a question of what you prioritize.
14:33It's a question of what you prioritize.
14:35Some 20 crore rupee grant is being given for an MLA constitution club.
14:41You've got at this time electricity supply companies, ESCOMs in crisis because of unpaid electricity bills.
14:48There is a 7000 crore rupee debt in your transport department.
14:51Now 20 crores may be a small amount relative to 7000 crores.
14:54But the fact is, it's a question of prioritization.
14:57You're building a club and you've got unpaid bills.
15:01Rahul, if that is the case, then…
15:03Rahul, now unpaid bills, you cannot talk here because there is a definitely…
15:08the government is there.
15:09Every government, every department has got unpaid bill.
15:12Now you're asking me a question on a department wise.
15:15Then you have to speak in detail, right?
15:17Then that is the case.
15:18Then it's a fair chance for me to speak also.
15:20Every department owes to other department.
15:22Transport department has definitely been owing from the other state.
15:25They will pay.
15:26Now for example, electricity bill will not be paid for the gram panchayat.
15:29The government has to take care of it.
15:31What is this question?
15:32What are you asking?
15:33There is no relation to it, right?
15:34You're talking about a physical deficit of a state government where we are very much better than other states comparatively.
15:41Even though we are paying 60,000 crores as a subsidy.
15:44You should rank us.
15:45Even though we are paying 60,000 crores subsidy on a DPT where you should rank, at least give some sort of a merit to our state.
15:52Remaining things we can discuss.
15:54If there is a due from one department to other department, how can you take on a debate and talk to me on that?
15:59Sir, beneficiaries of the Griha Lakshmi scheme are telling our reporters in Karnataka that they haven't received the promised money for the last three months.
16:09Funds for the Annabhagya which provides cash in lieu of 5 kgs of rice have not been released for the last four months.
16:16Now if this is money that you can't give, in the middle of it you are building clubs.
16:20And what I am aghast by is the fact that you are not thinking that there is anything wrong with the allocation.
16:25No, I am definitely buying your point.
16:31Rahul, I will be very honest, I am buying your point.
16:34Because having such dues, getting these massage chairs really does not go well according to whatever you are talking.
16:40I buy that point.
16:41Living apart the massage chairs, according to three months what we have not paid the Griha Lakshmi, it will be paid.
16:51Like for example, if I can tell, you are on record.
16:55So today central government does not pay money for our NRG work.
17:00It will come, but it will be delayed.
17:02Three months, four months, delays there.
17:04So every state government or a central government, whenever it has got a program which is going on, there will be certain delays.
17:10Yes, collection would be a form of money, money will not be coming some part of time.
17:14It is not that we have kept for a pending for a quite long time.
17:16For only three months which we have not paid, you are asking, but we have been paying last 16 months.
17:21So you should tap on our, we should tap on our government.
17:23That is why I said, no, if you see according to NITIYA report, we stand number three.
17:27We stand number three consistently on the report itself.
17:31So it shows the Karnataka is doing well.
17:33Yes, me.
17:34Yeah, please.
17:35No, complete your argument, because then I will throw it open to our panelists.
17:39Because from what I have understood, you do not essentially think that there is anything wrong in the manner in which these funds have been allocated under these heads.
17:49No, I do not completely, I am also not in line that you are talking about massage chairs.
17:57I do not know massage chairs, Honorable Speaker, in his wisdom, in his thinking, in what reference this has been there.
18:05Because from morning I have been hearing that.
18:07I am not totally aware of it, number one.
18:09Number two, if there is an increase, if there is an increase of a legislator fees that they want as a salary, there has to be an increase.
18:16They have got every right.
18:17Everybody has got right.
18:18Some people say it is not useful.
18:19Some people say it is correct.
18:21But it is left to the discretion of the government and the CM will take a call on it.
18:25Okay.
18:26Santosh Lal, Labor Minister in Karnataka for joining us.
18:29I think you have got explained the government's position.
18:32I do not want to get into a debate with you, but I want to hear from our other panelists.
18:35So you have heard from a senior minister in the Siddharam Iyer government.
18:37I want to go across to Harish Bijur first.
18:40Because what he said is, and I do not think there is any Karnataka MLA, frankly, Mr. Bijur, who survives of that MLA salary.
18:46But this just appears to me to be completely tone deaf.
18:49That you have got clubs being built, recliners being bought, massage chairs.
18:53They are asking for increments when in some of their most flagship schemes they have not been able to pay because they do not have the money for it.
19:00Well, Rahul, you put it succinctly.
19:06And I am going to take off on that point and say that, you know, hey, listen, when it comes to massage chairs and recliners and the numbers that they are talking about at this point of time, it is small.
19:17But let us look at it from the optics it creates.
19:20You know, the Congress party in Karnataka has actually taken a whip and given it to the opposition in Karnataka to beat them with.
19:29Because, you know, it looks petty to pick.
19:32But politics can get pretty petty.
19:35If you really look at it, something like the glass house, inverted commas, Arvind Kejriwal, was taken to an election.
19:44And to an extent, it actually made a big impact.
19:47So a massage chair or a recliner is not good optics for the Congress party at all.
19:52The Congress party came into power two years ago.
19:56And I think it came in with a big, big mandate.
19:59I don't think that mandate must be frittered on items which give you bad optics.
20:04I have just one point to make, Rahul, and that is when you represent the people, your public lifestyle must not be higher than that of your lowest common denominator voter.
20:19Lowest common denominator.
20:21It should not even be like the middle common denominator voter, lowest.
20:25Because, you know, people are looking at you.
20:27And this makes for bad optics and bad press.
20:30And people will tend to ask, hey, listen, I'm paying so much out as taxes.
20:36And as all kinds of prices keep going up, is this where the money is going?
20:41Labanya Balal, your government doesn't have money to pay for key schemes.
20:45And yet your MLAs are asking for pay hikes, massage chairs, recliners, clubs.
20:53You know, in the Greha Lakshmi scheme, you haven't been able to pay.
20:57You haven't been able to pay in the Anbhagya scheme for five kilos of rice for the last five months.
21:03It just seems as if your government is at this moment being completely tone deaf.
21:08You don't mute, Labanya.
21:13Good evening, Rahul.
21:15When we talk about MLAs, we are talking about 224 MLAs.
21:20That includes the Congress, the BJP, and the GDS MLAs.
21:24Harish Biju did make a very valid point about the lifestyle of the leaders.
21:28But here is what I would like to tell you.
21:30I just had a chat with the speaker, and I was asking him about the expense of these chairs and the massage chairs that we were talking about.
21:39So the recliners that is being brought, about 10 or 15, for a total year, the cost is two lakhs.
21:47The massage chairs are complimentary, and that is not being charged.
21:51It is just two lakhs expense per year for these recliners.
21:54Is it bad optics?
21:56Totally.
21:57I would agree, yes, it is bad optics.
21:59But here is another question.
22:01When we talk about expenses being spent, I'm not going to talk about the salaries of the MLAs, because the request has come from different party MLAs, and it is going to be discussed, and there's a procedure for that.
22:11Now when we are talking about the expense of Karnataka government, as a Kannadiga, this is what really hurts me.
22:18We do not discuss about other states.
22:20I do not see much discussion about how much, thousands of crores is being spent on Lok Sabha buildings, and on the residence of the Prime Minister, residence of the President.
22:31None of that is being discussed.
22:33What is being discussed is the two lakhs being spent on all MLAs, 224 MLAs.
22:38What you are saying is just two lakh rupees, but I also want to tell you Lavanya, that local media has quoted your leaders as saying that the rent on those recliners is 1500 rupees per day.
22:48For each of those recliners is 1500 rupees per day.
22:51That's the rent which is being reported on the basis of comments made by MLAs in your government.
22:56I would have suggested that people reach the source directly.
23:00U.T. Khader, the Honorable Speaker, I am sure would have been available to find out the costing, and his office would have told you the exact amount that they are spending.
23:09This is the amount he told me.
23:11But you are allocating 20 crore rupees for a club for MLAs?
23:14No, no, I am not talking about the club. I am just talking about the chairs.
23:18No, talk about the club as well. Talk to us about the club.
23:21When we are talking about the club, let us talk about the club.
23:23What are the perks that we are getting in Lok Sabha?
23:25The MPs are getting meals at 10 rupees subsidized.
23:28Why isn't anybody talking about it?
23:30Do the MPs need a meal at 10 rupees?
23:32The luxurious, scrumptious meal that they have?
23:34Last when I went to Parliament, that subsidy is no longer that much.
23:39It's no longer 10 rupees. It used to be 10 rupees.
23:41Lavanya, it used to be 10 rupees many years ago.
23:44That subsidy has been readjusted.
23:48You don't get a meal in Parliament for 10 rupees any longer.
23:51Yes, absolutely. I agree with you.
23:53Yes, it has been adjusted.
23:55Now, what about thousands and thousands of crores being spent in Delhi
23:58on the structures, the government structures,
24:01the residence of the Prime Minister, the residence of the President?
24:04Why is nobody discussing about it?
24:06Why is it that everybody from the national media has a different scale
24:10to measure things in Karnataka?
24:12It feels like we are almost disliked for anything that we do in Karnataka.
24:18I'm so sorry, but this does not come across as a valid request.
24:23When the speaker says there are MLAs who refuse to come back after the lunch
24:29saying they have health issues or whatever,
24:31I want to know, why aren't we discussing about that?
24:33Who are these MLAs who are not coming back to the session after the lunch break?
24:38How many of them from the Congress, how many of them from the BJP or JDS
24:42do not attend the afternoon sessions?
24:44I think that is what we should be discussing.
24:47Mohan Vishwa, the best argument that Lavanya Balal has
24:51that the Prime Minister is building a new home,
24:53there's a new government complex being built
24:56and that's causing thousands of crores as well.
24:59So why just look at the few lakhs that we're spending on these recliners and massages?
25:03There's a lot of bias here in favour of the BJP and against the Congress in Karnataka.
25:08No, let me correct it, Rahul.
25:10It is not against the BJP or for the BJP.
25:13I said against Karnataka.
25:14Let me be very clear, Karnataka.
25:16Not against a party.
25:18Let Mohan Vishwa speak for himself.
25:20Good evening, Rahul.
25:22It's not about the money here.
25:24See, the Siddharam Iyer who calls himself as a socialistic leader,
25:28what kind of message is he giving?
25:30Come on, the entire government is sleeping from past two years.
25:33Let me give some statistics.
25:34I just heard what Mr. Santosh Lodge said.
25:37He said, he asked you to speak about, he asked you to praise Karnataka
25:41for giving free bus services and also for giving free electricity.
25:45See, it becomes free only when you make a payment to electricity companies.
25:49It becomes free only when you make payment to transport corporations.
25:53Come on, you're not making, you're not paid electricity bills.
25:56You're not paid, what do you say, the transport corporations.
26:00And how can you claim it as free?
26:02It's like similar to the UPA2, which the oil bonds pattern followed.
26:06Same thing is being followed here.
26:08There also, they issued an oil bond, which got matured in our terms,
26:12where we paid for it, and they claim the marketing status.
26:15Same thing here.
26:16They're not even paying the transport corporations.
26:18They're not even paying the, what do you say, the electricity companies.
26:21And they claim that they're giving free electricity.
26:23Come on, what kind of a lie is selling here on a national TV being a minister?
26:27This is one thing.
26:28Let me finish, madam.
26:29Let me finish.
26:30I'm here.
26:31And also, like, see, like, as you rightly said, I'll give you one more number.
26:36How bad the economic condition of Karnataka has become from past two years.
26:39Like, as you rightly said, they've hiked the milk prices.
26:42They've increased the stamp duty valuation.
26:44They've increased the liquor prices.
26:46They've increased petrol price, diesel price.
26:48Come on.
26:49And also, the minister said, how much, what is the percentage of increase?
26:52Come on, metro price has been doubled almost.
26:54Okay.
26:55And also, BMTC, a lot of places, they have doubled prices increased.
26:58And also, the excise due to liquor has been doubled in so many cases.
27:02More than 100 to 100% increase.
27:04Even after increasing, Rahul, the debt in the first year has been increased by 83,000 crores.
27:10The debt in the second year has been increased by 1,500 crores.
27:13Even after increasing the price, even after getting the GST collections,
27:16the Karnataka's debt in last two years has been increased by 1,900,000 crores.
27:21And they are going to make another 1,500,000 crores debt in the coming budget,
27:25in just three years, even after increasing all the prices, without paying anybody,
27:30without paying any subsidy.
27:31As I said, they have not even paid Grohlakshmi amount from past three to four months.
27:35They are not paying to the companies.
27:37Even after that, the debt of the Karnataka has been increased by 3,00,000 crores.
27:40Then where the money is going?
27:41Can you get into chairs?
27:43Let me finish.
27:44I'm not finished yet.
27:45Their own MLAs, their own Netas, their own cabinet ministers.
27:48I can name them.
27:49There is an MLA called Raju Kage.
27:51There is an MLA called Gavi Appa.
27:52There is a minister called B.R. Patil.
27:54He himself has written a letter to Siddharth Ramayana
27:56that he is not getting the funds for his own constituency.
27:58Then where the money is going?
28:00There are no increase of almost 3,00,000 crores.
28:03Where the money is going?
28:04Let me go across to Sandeep Aneerudhan.
28:06Lavanya Balal and even Santosh Lal earlier was making the point
28:10that they think that the Karnataka government of Siddharth Ramayana
28:13is being unfairly targeted,
28:14that there is some kind of a vindictive campaign on against them.
28:18Do you think that they have just been tone deaf?
28:20It's not how much that club or the salary hike actually costs.
28:24It's the fact that you've got critical schemes for which you have no allocations.
28:27You've got electricity departments, transport departments
28:30which haven't been paid their dues.
28:32And yet the MLAs and the government thinks it's okay
28:34to be spending on their own welfare.
28:36Rahul, it is true that the state is going through a financial crisis.
28:44Today's Tech and Herald reported that the debt burden of the state
28:49is going to exceed 7,00,000 crores.
28:51I don't know who is going to repay this amount.
28:54And on top of it we have a Bangalore development minister
28:57who wants to take loans of 1.68 lakh crores to build some projects
29:01which we don't want.
29:02Citizens don't want it.
29:03He wants to impose it on the city.
29:05So I think the crisis here is one of credibility.
29:08And the crisis here is one of consultation.
29:13The state government seems to be in a complete disconnect with the public.
29:17Public are certainly not comfortable.
29:20Public are going through price rises and various things.
29:23The recent metro price hike, they'll keep finger-pointing till heaven comes.
29:29But the state government and the central government are partners in the metro.
29:32And there is a BMLTA which is supposed to be the transport regulator
29:36which remains on paper for the last two years.
29:38They still haven't constituted it.
29:40Whose fault is it? It is the government's fault.
29:42So they can't keep finger-pointing.
29:44Price has gone up to the extent where one lakh rides have reduced in the metro.
29:49We don't have sufficient buses.
29:52And no budget is increasing the buses.
29:54We need about 20,000 buses for a city like Bengaluru.
29:57No government is interested in it.
29:59They want to build tunnels which will only help cars.
30:02They want to build flyovers which will only help cars.
30:04But there is a larger problem here, Lavanya.
30:06You know, Karnataka was a prime example
30:09where the Congress had an opportunity to show
30:12that they could build their own new Congress model of governance
30:16to counter what the Modi government was doing,
30:18what the BJP was doing at the moment.
30:20But look at how the Karnataka government is in the news
30:23for all the wrong reasons.
30:25There is nothing that is happening which allows for you,
30:28whether it's your CM and your deputy CM being at loggerheads,
30:32schemes being announced without money for them,
30:35these unpaid dues.
30:36There is no model you are being able to create.
30:39That's the point that Harish Bijur made.
30:41It's an opportunity you seem to be frittering away.
30:44Well, Rahul, there were some points made.
30:47Your point as well as some of the points made by the BJP spokesperson.
30:51He talks about how much the transport corporation owes, the debt.
30:55He does not mention that the BJP government
30:57left the transportation corporation with a 4,000 crore debt.
31:02They owed 4,000 crores when they exited the office.
31:05Now, when we are talking about the salary hike
31:07and the perks that the MLAs are asking,
31:09the BJP spokesperson fails to tell us
31:13if there are no BJP leaders asking for a salary hike,
31:17if there are no BJP leaders using all of these perks.
31:20Secondly, when we are talking about the metro rides
31:23that Aniruddin was talking about,
31:25the metro is a joint venture,
31:29a collaboration between the central government
31:31and the state government,
31:32and to blame the state government for that looks very weird.
31:35When you're talking about the frittered opportunities,
31:38see, Rahul, I would say it's a point of view.
31:40You always talk about D.K. Shukumar and Sindhara Mayur.
31:43You never talk about the dispute in the BJP
31:45where it is a broken house.
31:47Even the Union or the Delhi High Command
31:50is not able to patch up these leaders.
31:52They're fighting like cats and dogs every day.
31:54The BJP is a broken house in Karnataka.
31:57Who is discussing?
31:58How many debates have happened about it?
32:00But you're in government right now.
32:01The Karnataka BJP has always been a mess,
32:03which is why you had the opportunity.
32:05Rahul, why do you cut me off?
32:06No, because you've spoken at length.
32:08That's why.
32:09I'll give you 20 more seconds to complete your argument.
32:11I would request you to also focus on the positive news
32:15that is coming in from Karnataka
32:17and also look at what is happening with the BJP in Karnataka.
32:20Not just the Congress leaders being at loggerheads.
32:22No, no, but this is the wrong argument to make, Harish Biju,
32:26because to compare Karnataka with Bihar and with Uttar Pradesh
32:30with no disrespect to those states,
32:32you're really pulling Karnataka down.
32:34You should compare Karnataka with, say, Tamil Nadu,
32:37with, say, potentially a Maharashtra,
32:39with some of the Southeast Asian countries.
32:41That's the weight category Karnataka should be punching in.
32:44You can't tell me that you're doing better than Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,
32:47like Santosh Lath did.
32:49And even here, you shouldn't compare with the Karnataka BJP.
32:52It's because the BJP in Karnataka was such a mess,
32:54which is why you had an opportunity to win
32:56and to show that you were different.
32:57Now you're saying, look at them, they're also fighting, we're also fighting.
33:00Let Harsh Biju come in on this.
33:04See, Rahul, I think you made a point that Karnataka is a great state.
33:10I mean, Karnataka is a jewel in the crown.
33:13That is India.
33:15And I do believe we need to compare with the right set of peers.
33:18But there is a bigger point.
33:20And the bigger point seems to be that governance
33:23is possibly gobbling up a lot of money today.
33:27And I think we should take a leaf.
33:29And I'm going to be unpopular on this,
33:31but I'm going to say it.
33:32We need to take a leaf out of the United States of America
33:36and what's happening with the DOGE.
33:39I think India needs a DOGE at the center
33:43and in each of our states.
33:45Because, you know, governments need to be run more efficiently.
33:49And the bigger point is, when you serve the poor,
33:52you must look like the poor.
33:55So that's very, very important because you cannot alienate yourself.
33:58No, but what you're saying from a branding perspective,
34:00from a positioning perspective is so basic and obvious.
34:03And forget what they do in their private lives.
34:05At least in public, the Netas are usually very careful of this.
34:08I'm seeing a situation now where even in public,
34:10they're justifying these recliners and these massage chairs,
34:13the clubs and the pay hikes.
34:15I think, Rahul, the government must stop.
34:19The Karnataka government must stop justifying this
34:22and pull out these recliners and pull out the massage chairs
34:25and not fight it out.
34:28No, but Lavanya said and even Santosh Raj said,
34:30Oh, look at the total amount. It's so small.
34:32How does it matter? It's no big deal.
34:33There are only 200-odd MLAs.
34:35Even if we give them a hike, how much money will it require?
34:37Yeah, absolutely, Rahul. I agree with that.
34:39But, you know, there are five points I'd like to summarize with.
34:42One is to say, pay MLAs well.
34:44It's very important to pay your MLA well
34:46because then, you know, hopefully, hopefully,
34:48other issues don't crop up.
34:50Secondly, don't give the opposition a whip to whip you with.
34:54The Congress Party has just done that.
34:56Thirdly, and if you're given the whip, withdraw the whip, if you want to.
35:00The third is, don't get bad optics.
35:02It's basic not to get bad optics after having spent two years
35:06and there is likely to be a change in leadership,
35:09we are told in Karnataka.
35:11It's not the right time for that to happen.
35:13And the fourth is, image is important.
35:15And the fifth is, look like the poor to serve the poor.
35:18Don't jump out of that.
35:20Okay. Mohan Vishwa, I'm running out of time.
35:23I need 20 seconds.
35:24Yes, very quickly, finally.
35:25See, see, regarding recliner, massage chair and all,
35:28we are totally against it.
35:30We have a legislative house inside Vidhan Sabha itself.
35:33Each MLA, MLC have been given a separate room altogether
35:36which has a, what do you say, the bed, even the bathroom, everything.
35:40So they can stay there, they can relax over there.
35:42It is needed only for the Congress, which is sleeping.
35:44And regarding the salary hike, there is a separate committee altogether.
35:47The committee will decide.
35:48It's not either BJP or Congress or JDS, whatever it may be.
35:51See, two days, you know, my friend who is sitting here,
35:53Congress spokesperson, she did not speak about the debt trap of the state.
35:56She did not speak about the price hike.
35:58And she speaks about the socialistics here.
36:00Siddharamaiah, come on.
36:02Today, D.K. Shukumar is the richest MLA in India.
36:05He has declared 1,435 crores of percent.
36:08You don't know.
36:09You don't understand.
36:10Come on.
36:11Is it a crime?
36:12Is it a crime to be a rich man in India now?
36:14It's not a crime.
36:15It's not a crime.
36:16It's not a crime.
36:17You, you spoke about it.
36:18No, you spoke about.
36:19No, no, no.
36:20No, hold on.
36:21Hold on.
36:22Complete my point.
36:23Okay.
36:24The guys who are sitting in state, being a CM or DCM, call themselves a socialistic leader
36:29and they want recliners on chairs.
36:30Come on.
36:31We have a legislature.
36:32How is it, sir?
36:33I will send you pictures of your leaders using those recliners.
36:35And also, last point, Rahul.
36:38Last point, Rahul.
36:39They are ruling in the state.
36:41Come on.
36:42If at all, if there is a problem in the state, the people will have the ruling party.
36:45Yes.
36:46In our opposition party, if you have an issue, our high command is there.
36:49Okay.
36:50We are there to, you know, the, what do you say?
36:51Throw out the issues faced by HOD sir.
36:52So that, see, that is our internal.
36:53Okay.
36:54That is our internal.
36:55But the people are today, you know, they are cursing Congress.
36:56Oh, then Sigarambai and DK is not internal.
36:57Men are cursing.
36:58Sigarambai and DK is your affairs.
36:59Okay.
37:00I'll leave it there.
37:01We've heard from all the guests.
37:02You know, it's quite clear that the government has a case of misplaced priorities.
37:14They really shouldn't be prioritizing these recliners, massage chairs, the clubs and the
37:19pay hike.
37:20This is a time when the state is going through a serious financial problem.
37:23You've got schemes you haven't been able to pay beneficiaries for.
37:27You've got government departments that have got dues piling up.
37:31Those are the issues.
37:32And at that time to say, well, it's no big deal.
37:34The amounts aren't very big.
37:35That, I'm afraid, simply doesn't fly.
37:37Well, you've heard from all the guests.
37:39You make up your own mind on this.
37:42Feeding lion clubs, giraffes and rhinos, posing with big cats and playing with orangutans.
37:48The Prime Minister did all this and more as he inaugurated Vantara, India's largest
37:52animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation center in Gujarat's Jamnagar.
37:57Vantara is a money sign, Anand's passion project and is home to more than 2000 species
38:02and over one and a half lakh rescued, endangered and threatened animals.
38:06Take a look at the highlights presented by the Prime Minister's office.
38:18The Prime Minister's Office
38:22Vantara, Gujarat
38:27Vantara, Gujarat
38:32Vantara, Gujarat
38:37Vantara, Gujarat
38:42Vantara, Gujarat
38:47Vantara, Gujarat
38:52Vantara, Gujarat
38:57Vantara, Gujarat
39:02Vantara, Gujarat
45:37That was the Prime Minister at Vantara, meanwhile the country's number one thought leadership
45:54platform, The India Today Conclave is back.
45:57With the theme, The Age of Acceleration, The India Today Conclave has a stellar line-up
46:01this year.
46:02As Donald Trump upends the world order, one of his former aides and US Secretary of State
46:08Mike Pompeo will be one of the key speakers at the Conclave this year, which happens in
46:13Delhi on the 7th and the 8th of March.
46:15Here is a quick sneak peek.
46:24Michael Richard Pompeo, the former Secretary of State in Donald Trump's first term, was
46:29the man of the moment and the world revolved around his moves, his words.
46:35He was the staunchest Trump loyalist in the cabinet, Secretary of State Pompeo was the
46:40key man to orchestrate three summits between Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader
46:46Kim Jong-un.
46:47But though they failed to contain North Korea's nuclear arsenal build-up, the fact that Kim
46:52Jong-un met the President for talks and that too not once but thrice, with great improvement
46:58in geopolitics.
47:02He was the man who built US relations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, especially
47:08when the CIA conclusion of Khashoggi's murder pinned the Crown Prince and the lawmakers
47:14mounted pressure to hold him accountable.
47:17Pompeo disputed the report and buried the hatchet.
47:22We will continue to have a conversation with the Crown Prince and the Saudis about ensuring
47:27that the accountability is full and complete with respect to the unacceptable murder of
47:33Jamal Khashoggi.
47:34We also know that we have an important relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we are
47:38determined to make that a successful relationship.
47:41It's in the national security interest to keep Americans safe and so we're going to
47:46do that.
47:50When President Trump took the US out of the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Mike Pompeo
47:56was the man who played the Trump card to slap Iran with the strongest sanctions.
48:03This sting of sanctions will be painful if the regime does not change its course from
48:08the unacceptable and unproductive path it has chosen to one that rejoins the League
48:13of Nations.
48:15These will indeed end up being the strongest sanctions in history when we are complete.
48:22He was the man Donald Trump relied on to get the job done and he delivered each time.
48:27The powerful former Secretary of State who knows Donald Trump and his style of function
48:31the best would be at the India Today conclave, live, interacting and decoding Trumpism in
48:40person.
48:41This is where we wrap up the news track tonight.
48:45For the time, I am cheering for the India team and hoping that we go through to the
48:49finals.
48:50It's exciting, it's looking as if we have it in control but this is Australia we're
48:53up against so we've got our fingers crossed and we are bleeding blue.
48:56See you tomorrow.
48:57Goodbye.