Chikkamagaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that he had announced setting up six medical colleges in the state in the 2017-18 budget but due to shortage of funds, the government is finding it tough to start the medical colleges.

Speaking to reporters here, the chief minister said, “Five agricultural universities and a horticultural varsity are functioning in the state. There is a proposal before the state government for a horticultural university at Mudigere. An appropriate decision on the issue will be taken soon.”

To a query of banning organisations, he said, “I have never said that the government would ban RSS or other organisations in the state. I had earlier, in my speeches, said that stringent action would be taken against the organisations which create communal tension, Siddaramaiah clarified.

The Congress party manifesto and Vision 2025 are being prepared. Based on the manifesto and Vision 2025, the government will formulate new programmes soon, he said.