Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that Karnataka emerged as the number one State in the country in terms of per capita income, attributing the achievement to the guarantee schemes implemented by his government.Addressing a public meeting at Koppal on Monday, after inaugurating development projects and laying the foundation stones for new ones worth ₹2,000 crore, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the guarantee schemes boosted production, created employment, and, in turn, increased revenue collection.“Through the five guarantee schemes, our government has infused over ₹1 lakh crore directly into the hands of the people within two years. This has enhanced their purchasing power, stimulated economic activity, and led to a rise in per capita income. According to recent studies, these schemes are the key reason for Karnataka’s emergence as the number one State in per capita income. This is our government’s economic achievement,” he said.Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remarks on the guarantee schemes, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the State had not gone bankrupt, as Mr. Modi predicted, but had instead achieved greater financial stability. “When we announced the guarantee schemes, Mr. Modi claimed they would be impossible to implement and that their implementation would make the State bankrupt. Now, after two years and four months, we have implemented them by spending over ₹1 lakh crore. Has the State gone bankrupt? No. It remains financially sound and has grown even more stable,” he asserted.Taking a dig at State BJP leaders, Mr. Siddaramaiah said their allegations that development had stagnated due to heavy spending on the guarantee schemes “did not hold water”. “BJP leaders often claim that our focus on the guarantee schemes has halted development works. I challenge them to accompany me to the districts and see for themselves the development taking place under our government,” he said.“In Koppal alone, I have today inaugurated completed projects and laid foundation stones for new ones worth over ₹2,000 crore. Our government has already allocated ₹13,000 crore as special grants for the development of Kalyana Karnataka. We are also spending between ₹70,000 crore and ₹80,000 crore to compensate farmers who have lost their land for the Upper Krishna Project. Would all this have been possible if the State treasury was empty?” he asked, dismissing opposition claims of financial mismanagement.Accusing the previous BJP government of neglect, he said: “During its four-year rule, the BJP did not provide even a single house to the poor, and failed to deliver meaningful development. Now, they are envious of our achievements”.GST rationalisationComing down heavily on the Prime Minister for his attempts to claim undue credit for the recent rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Mr. Siddaramaiah questioned who, in the first place, imposed the irrational GST on people.“It was Mr. Modi and the BJP who introduced an irrational GST structure in 2017 and burdened the people for eight years. Now, they are patting themselves on the back for correcting a system they themselves created. Even with the so-called rationalisation, Karnataka will stand to lose around ₹15,000 crore every year, as the Union Government retains most of the GST revenue while allocating only a small portion to the States,” he added.‘Koppal close to my heart’Mr. Siddaramaiah expressed deep gratitude to the people of Koppal, recalling his emotional and political connection with the district. “Every time I set foot in Koppal, I feel the same happiness as when I return to Mysuru. I remain forever indebted to the love and affection of the people here,” he said.“I had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Koppal in 1991, and you all worked tirelessly for me. I lost by a narrow margin. Had Rajiv Gandhi not been assassinated, I might have won that election. Perhaps I wouldn’t have become the Chief Minister of Karnataka, but I would certainly have been a Member of Parliament from Koppal. I have repaid part of my debt to Koppal, but much of it still remains,” he added with emotion.Projects inauguratedEarlier in the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated a 450-bed hospital attached to the Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences and laid the foundation stone for a new super-specialty hospital. He also inaugurated an Indira Canteen and sampled the food served there.Ministers Shivaraj Tangadagi, Sharan Prakash Patil, and Zameer Ahmad Khan; Koppal Lok Sabha member Rajashekhar Hitnal; Chief Minister’s Economic Adviser Basavaraj Rayaraddi; Koppal MLA Raghavendra Hitnal; KKRDB Chairman Ajay Singh; and several senior officials and public representatives were present on the occasion.