CM calls BJP's drought study tour farce; says party leaders should meet PM instead

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Terming Karnataka BJP's drought study tour as "farce", Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused it of using the drought situation for 'petty political gains'.

Siddaramaiah alleged delay in the release of central funds, and asked BJP leaders to at least arrange an appointment for him with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, if they don't have the courage to talk to him.

The BJP has formed 17 teams headed by leaders, including former CM B S Yediyurappa, to tour all 33 districts of the state and assess the drought situation from November 3 to 10.

The party said it will submit a report to the government and seek time in the next Assembly session for a debate on the issue.

"The new drought study tour of BJP leaders of Karnataka is a farce. While the ones who should provide drought relief are seated in Delhi, these state BJP leaders are undertaking a drought study tour within the state instead of appealing to their bosses in the union government," Siddaramaiah said in a statement.

"Dear BJP leaders, your very own party's government had sent a team of experts from Delhi to study the drought situation in Karnataka. But now, you are undertaking a tour for the same purpose. Don't you trust your own government's drought study team?" he asked.

The Karnataka government has estimated loss due to the drought to be around Rs 33,770 crore and has requested Rs 17,901 crore relief from the union government.

Noting that "unfortunately" the state has not received even a single paisa as relief," the CM said, "Dear BJP leaders, if you genuinely care about the farmers of the state, first demand from your government. How many BJP MPs have written a letter to the Prime Minister demanding the relief funds for Karnataka?"

BJP leaders should be touring Delhi, not the state, he said.

"Take your 25 Lok Sabha members to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and question him if needed, and ask for the relief funds. If you don't have the courage to talk to him, at least arrange an appointment for me with the Prime Minister."

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said let the BJP leaders take steps to ensure that the state receive relief funds from the central government at the earliest.

My govt is stable and cannot fall: CM Siddu dismisses claim of BJP

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said his government is stable and cannot collapse, dismissing the claim made by a BJP leader on Monday.

BJP MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi had said that the Congress government would collapse, adding it would be similar to what happened to the Uddhav Thackeray-led dispensation in Maharashtra.

Jarkiholi claimed that the government faces threats from within rather than anything external and that “Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and company” would be responsible for the fall, apparently drawing a parallel with Ajit Pawar's action in the neighbouring state.

Jarkiholi on Monday also rubbished Congress's allegation that it was the BJP that was engaging in a 2019-like 'Operation Lotus' to topple the government.

He dismissed the Congress's allegation that those who brought down the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2019 are active once again and are offering bribes to the ruling Congress MLAs to jump ship. Jarkiholi, who was previously with Congress and was seen as instrumental in the fall of the coalition government four years ago, said the BJP has never talked about ‘Operation Lotus'.

Instead, it is the "drama company" of DCM Shivakumar that is talking about it, he claimed.