BJP comes under attack for drought relief work

Former BJP leader B Sreeramulu on Thursday flayed the tour undertaken by former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in drought hit district of the state and termed it as another “drama” to regain power. “Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Yeddyurappa are engaged in power politics. BJP leaders are continuing their resort politics”, Sreeramulu, who has floated his own “BSR” (Badavara, Shramikra and Raithara) party hit out at a press conference here.

He said he would launch Padayatra from Basavakalyan in Bagalkot district from April 24 to awken what he called “sleeping” government to remind it to take up relief works in drought hit areas. He also said that he would undertake two-day fast from June 17, if the state government failed to de-silt Tungabhadra Reservoir by then. Sreeramulu said farmers of Bellary, Raichur and Koppal would join him in the fast.

The former Minister went on two-day fast last month in Gadag seeking development activities in North Karnataka region, an issue which he never touched while he was in power.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Labour and Employment on Thursday lashed out at the BJP government Karnataka for its failure to take up relief works in drought battered areas. “Stop accusing Congress for everything. Start immediately relief works on a war foot as people are suffering”, Kharge said while addressing Bijapur and Bagalkot zone Congress workers here being held as part of the efforts to gear up the party for coming elections.

The BJP government may collapse any time due to its internal bickerings, he said and exorted Congress workers to work for bringing the party to power in the state. Kharge termed BJP and JD(S) as anti-people and anti-farmer. The BJP Government had failed to utilised funds sanctioned by the Union Government for many schemes and alleged that pointed out that Rs 4,000 crore was allocated to Karnataka under National Rural Employment Guarantee programme last year. The union minister also listed development programmes initiated by the UPA government.