BJP drought-relief moves criticised

Former Chief Minister and State JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy on Monday hit out at BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa for ‘indulging in theatrics’ over the drought situation in Karnataka.

“Yeddyurappa is indulging in theatrics over the drought in some parts of the state. As soon as he came to know Karnataka BJP Incharge Dharmendra Pradhan is in Bangalore, he rushed back dropping his visit to drought-hit taluks for the sake of regaining his lost chair,” he told reporters here.

On Yeddyurappa’s letter to Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, demanding immediate release of Rs 200 crore for drought relief work, Kumaraswamy said the government should release Rs 4,600 crore as promised on the floor of the House to farmers who suffered crop losses. To a question, he said Gowda has not taken any serious steps to tackle drought. “Other than attending the Visvesvaraya Technological University convocation in Belgaum, the Chief Minister has not visited any drought-hit villages,” he said.

Blaming both the central and state governments for the situation, Kumaraswamy said the party has decided to strike in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue in case they failed to address drought problems. On the ‘Yuva Chenata Pravasa’, Kumaraswamy said 26 teams have been formed and they would visit all 123 drought-hit taluks in the state.

JD(S) leaders have been directed to visit drought-hit taluks and submit a report on how the government has fared in tackling drought, Kumaraswamy said. After seeking reports from JD(S) leaders, a memorandum would be submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh under the leadership of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, he said. “We will also submit a report to the state government,” he added.