M Krishna lauds IT, BT effect

M Krishna lauds IT, BT effect
Saturday April 5 2008 07:53 IST

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BANGALORE: Taking a swipe at his detractors who never miss a chance to criticise his support for the IT and BT sectors during his regime , former chief minister S M Krishna attributed the quantum jump in resource mobilisation to the growth of these two sectors in the state.

Krishna who represented the Congress at an interactive programme on manifestos of political parties for Bangalore on Friday, said that the tax mobilisation which was around Rs 3000 crore in 1999 had touched Rs 31,000 crore in 2008.

"This quantum jump was possible only because of the growth of the IT and BT sectors. We should also remember that 70 per cent of this revenue will go to the State government. We did not encourage the IT sector just for the heck of it. Our treasury is full today only because of this endeavour," he said.

Krishna took pride in his government's decision to set up the Karnataka Beverages Corporation that curbed sale of seconds liquor. "The excise revenue today has shot up to Rs 5700 crore. It was possible only because we had the political will and vision," he said.