Mangaluru : The government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has failed to tackle drought situation, power crisis and other problems that is haunting Karnataka, said former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Speaking to the reporters on Saturday, said that the crop compensation released by the central government to the state government has failed to reach the real beneficiary farmers. “The fund has been misused in Ballari, Kolar and other districts. The state government has no control over the corrupt officials. Also, it has failed to provide employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),” he alleged.

“Karnataka is reeling under power crisis. Instead of solving the problem, the government has revised the power tariff and has burdened the common man,” he said.

Stating that the agriculture sector has collapsed in the last two years in Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said that the karnataka government has failed to implement any welfare programmes for the farmers to help them to lead a dignified life.

“The government has failed to initiate action against an IPS officer’s misconduct, as recommended by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy. The Academy had recommended on December 15, 2015 to initiate action against IPS officer Abhishek Goyal, for his misconduct and gross indiscipline during a mid-career training programme in November 2015,” he stated.

Speaking about the government plans to set up an Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), the former chief minister said that the government is not curbing the corruption – instead it is protecting corrupt officials. “We will shut down the ACB within 24 hours, if the JD(S) comes to power. We have already requested governor Vajubhai Vala for the withdrawal of the government order on ACB,” he said.

“I have decided not to raise any corruption issue temporarily. I will take stern and merciless action against the corrupt if people give me an opportunity to rule Karnataka,” he promised.

Kumaraswamy also condemned the government for failing to act against unlicensed sand mining which is being carried out unabated in Karnataka, especially in Dakshina Kannada district. “Owing to the ban on sand mining, the poor are not able to construct houses. The price of sand has been increased by four to five times,” he added.

To a query on the future strategy of the JD(S), he said that he has convened a meeting of all legislators from the JD(S) in Mysuru on April 16, to discuss the future course of action against the state government by the JDS.