Bengaluru: Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday questioned the Karnataka government’s failure to address the demands of persons with disabilities, asking whether it lacked funds to meet their needs despite spending hundreds of crores of rupees on other programmes.
Kumaraswamy met the protesters near Kanamanike on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway as they undertook a padayatra from Ramanagara to Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Accompanied by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, he listened to their grievances and expressed support for their demands.
The march had been halted by the police. Kumaraswamy said he spoke to the personnel concerned and requested that the protesters be allowed to resume their march the following morning. According to him, the police agreed to the request.
Criticising the state government, Kumaraswamy said it was unfortunate that persons with disabilities were struggling to get their demands addressed while undertaking a protest in the Chief Minister’s home district.
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister, he said arrangements had been made to enable persons with disabilities to access the Chief Minister’s Office, residence and Vidhana Soudha. He alleged that under the present Congress government, they were not even being allowed to reach Freedom Park.
Kumaraswamy alleged that the government was spending hundreds of crores of rupees on various purposes but had failed to meet the demands of persons with disabilities, including their requests for monthly allowances.
“The government has the funds to spend hundreds of crores on various purposes. But does it lack the money to fulfil the demands of persons with disabilities and provide them with their monthly allowances?” he asked.
He urged the government to respond promptly to the protesters’ grievances and take concrete steps to address their demands.
