CM Siddaramaiah attacks Centre, PM Modi over alleged delay in providing drought relief to State
Bengaluru (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday questioned the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged delay in providing drought relief to Karnataka, and asked whether the BJP government is taking "revenge" on the state.
He said 216 out of the state's total 236 taluks are drought-hit and pointed out that a Central team that visited the state to study the situation too is convinced about it, but still there is no response from the BJP-led NDA government.
Siddaramaiah posted on social platform X: "216 taluks in the state are affected by severe drought. So far, not even a single paisa of compensation has been released by the Centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi! Why is your big heart that beats for the sufferings and sorrows of the world, so harsh towards Kannadigas?"
"Is the BJP government led by you taking revenge on Karnataka? This is not just my question, but the question of six-and-a-half crore self respecting Kannadigas," he said.
With the hashtag #AnswerMadiModi' (answer Modi), the chief minister said that drought-hit Karnataka is facing a staggering loss of Rs 33,770 crore, and despite a plea for Rs 17,901 crore in relief, the Centre remains "silent".
Stating that it is time to recollect the threats posed by BJP leaders to Kannadigas in the run-up to the May assembly elections, Siddaramaiah said, "...the result of which we are seeing now. Why are the BJP MPs and Union government ministers silent over extending drought relief to Karnataka? Is it because of their hate towards Kannadigas?"
In the assembly polls held in May, the Congress ousted the BJP from power bagging 135 seats in the 224-member assembly. The BJP secured 66 seats and the JD(S) 19.
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RCB pip CSK by two runs in last-ball IPL thriller
Bengaluru: Ayush Mhatre's 94 and Ravindra Jadeja's 77 not out went in vain as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pipped Chennai Super Kings by two runs in their IPL match here on Saturday.
Chasing 214, CSK scored 211 for 5 in their 20 overs.
Mhatre scored a 48-ball 94 with five sixes and nine fours while adding 114 runs with Jadeja (77 not out off 45 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s) for the second wicket.
For RCB, Lungi Ngidi returned with figures of 3/30.
Earlier, half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55), Virat Kohli (62) and Romario Shepherd (53 not out) took RCB to 213 for five.
While Bethell and Kohli put on 97 runs for the opening wicket to set a platform, Shepherd blasted four fours and six sixes to make 53 not out off only 14 balls, recording the fastest fifty of the season and joint second-fastest overall.
For CSK, Matheesha Pathirana found his rhythm and lengths to return 3-0-36-3.
Brief scores:
RCB: 213 for 5 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 55, Virat Kohli 62, Romario Shepherd 53 not out; Matheesha Pathirana 3/36).
CSK: 211 for 5 in 20 overs (Ayush Mhatre 94, Ravindra Jadeja 77 not out; Lungi Ngidi 3/30).
