Bengaluru, DHNS: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday patted himself claiming that he has walked the talk by fulfilling most of the promises made during the 2013 Assembly elections.

“My conscience is very, very clear. I am of the firm belief that I have walked the talk in the last three years and nine months. Of 165 promises (made in the Congress manifesto in the 2013 polls), 125 have been fulfilled (sic),” he stated while replying to the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly.

He listed out the achievements of his government to counter the principal Opposition BJP that had accused the government of not being able to take off and of being lethargic. “The government has developed 9,000 km of state highways, 17,000 km of major district roads, spent Rs 43,000 crore on irrigation projects, distributing free food grain to 1.08 crore below poverty line families in the last three years and nine months. Can a government achieve so much without even taking off?” he said.

He also denied that the priority of his government is Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) and claimed that a majority of the programmes are aimed at uplifting the poor, the farmers and women.

Siddaramaiah said he will soon write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to waive at least 50% of farm loans taken from various nationalised banks in view of the severe drought in Karnataka. “We are ready to waive 50% of farm loans taken from co-operative banks. The Centre should also come to the rescue of distressed farmers,” he added.