CM takes dig at BJP's drought study tour, says it should approach Centre and get relief for state
Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at BJP's state-wide drought study tour, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asked the opposition party to approach the Central government and ensure that the state gets the relief funds at the earliest.
Pointing out the delay in release of drought relief funds from the Centre, he also questioned the BJP's concern for the state and its farmers.
In Karnataka, 216 out of the total 236 taluks have been declared drought-hit by the state government.
"Let them do it. The Central team has already come and studied the drought situation. They have not yet submitted the report to the Government of India. Here, the BJP, for the sake of politics, are saying that they will go on a drought study tour," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about the saffron party's ongoing drought study tour.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, let BJP leaders go to the Central government instead, and ensure that the state gets drought relief funds at the earliest.
"The Central team has already studied the situation. We have also studied. Let them study. I don't have any objection. I'm not saying that they should not study, but it's been long since we sent the memorandum to the Central government seeking relief, and the Central team visiting the state. They (Central team) have not yet given the report and the Union government has not yet released relief," he added.
The BJP has formed 17 teams headed by leaders, including former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, to tour all 33 districts of the state and assess the drought situation till November 10.
The party has said that it will submit a report to the government, and seek special time in the next Assembly session for a debate on the issue.
Pointing out that the state has sought a drought relief of Rs 17,900 crore as per norms, while the actual loss is to the tune of Rs 33,700 crore, Siddaramaiah said, if BJP leaders have concerns about the state's villages, farmers, and Karnataka, let them ensure that the state receives relief funds at the earliest.
"There are 25 MPs (of BJP from the state), let them sit there (in Delhi) and get it done," he said, alleging that the concerned Central Ministers did not even give an appointment to the state's ministerial team, who had gone to Delhi, to meet them and appraise them of the situation.
"What concern do they (BJP) have for Karnataka?" he questioned.
Responding to a question about JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy's purported statement alleging that the drought survey was not done scientifically, the CM said, "Who did the survey? The Central team comes under whom? Let him blame the Union government for stating that they have not done it scientifically."
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Horror at Mysuru Dasara: 10-year-old balloon seller found dead; rape, murder suspected
Mysuru: A horrifying incident has shaken Mysuru during the ongoing Dasara festivities, after the body of a minor girl who sold balloons at the Dasara Exhibition was found on the exhibition grounds on Thursday morning. Police and locals suspect the child may have been raped and murdered.
The victim, believed to be around nine to ten years old, was a native of Kalaburagi. She had been living with her parents in a temporary tent at Doddakere Maidan and earned her livelihood by selling balloons to visitors at the fair.
According to police sources, the girl had accompanied her parents to the ‘Theppotsava’ at the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills on Wednesday night. After returning, she reportedly slept beside her mother in the tent. The next morning, she was found missing.
A brief search by her family ended in tragedy when her body was discovered near a mound of mud, about 50 metres away from the tent. Police officers at the scene said the circumstances indicate the possibility of sexual assault followed by murder.
A police team, along with a dog squad and forensic experts, visited the spot and began collecting evidence.
