Dy CM Shivakumar takes a dig at BJP, JD(S) over drought study tour, says it is for "publicity"
Bengaluru (PTI): Dubbing BJP and JD(S)' drought study tour as "publicity," Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday asked their parliamentarians and legislators to instead meet the Prime Minister and Central Ministers concerned and ensure that the state gets the relief.
Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, accused the Centre of "discrimination" in providing drought relief to the state.
While the BJP is undertaking a drought study tour across the state in teams, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy had recently said that his party would undertake the 'Raita Santwana Yatre' (tour to console farmers) probably in December.
"The BJP and JD(S) leaders are going on a drought study tour out of compassion," he said, mocking the two parties.
"Already, the Karnataka government has conducted a survey and has submitted a memorandum to the Central government which has even sent a team of officials to assess the situation," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, 26 MPs of the BJP and JD(S), along with 66 and 19 MLAs respectively from both parties should go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Central Ministers and get relief funds to the state.
"Instead of going (on a tour) for the sake of publicity and inspecting two (agricultural) plants (saplings) and coming back is not right, we have already seen plants, if you want -- go and take publicity -- but also ensure that the state benefits from you, that's important.
We are not begging in front of your Central government, we are asking the Centre to release relief funds as per rules, it's our right," he added.
Karnataka has declared 216 out of the total 236 taluks in the state as drought-hit. The government has estimated losses in excess of Rs 33,770 crore, and has sought a Central drought relief of Rs 17,900 crore as per norms.
Noting that Rs 800 crore is available with deputy commissioners to handle the drought situation, the Deputy Chief Minister said, instructions have been given to use the funds for drinking water, fodder and other needs.
With more than 200 taluks reeling under drought, the state had decided to increase Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) man-days of work from 100 days to 150 days, and has written to Centre in this regard, he said, adding, it has been about two months, but there is no response in this regard from the Union government.
"I urge all our MPs, 66 BJP MLAs and 19 JD(S) MLAs, who H D Kumaraswamy claims are in alliance with the BJP and are part of NDA -- let them do politics, we don't have objection -- but, if they have concern for the state, let them ensure that the state gets funds from the Centre, and also see to it that man-days under MNREGA is increased to 150," he said, adding that if they don't give, the state government has decided to do it by itself and bear the cost.
Responding to a question on alleged controversy about the Congress deputing Karnataka Ministers for the poll campaign in Telangana and other election responsibilities, despite the drought in many parts of the state, Shivakumar, before leaving for Telangana for campaigning today said: "Not too many, we have only deputed five to six Ministers, even when the BJP was in power they had done so."
Also, about 40 Congress legislators have been deputed and they too will be going to Telangana, he said and added that Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who was also deputed, has been asked not to go, as he will be required in the state amid the drought situation.
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Andhra CM thanks President for giving assent to bill recognising Amaravati as capital
Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has thanked President Droupadi Murmu for giving assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which recognises the greenfield city of Amaravati as the capital.
The Act was published in The Gazette of India, following the presidential assent.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to the southern state and his guidance to all the MPs for supporting the 'Amaravati Bill'.
"On behalf of my people of Andhra Pradesh, I express profound gratitude to Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji for her gracious assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, fulfilling the long-cherished dream of our capital," Naidu said in a post on X on Monday.
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The chief minister also thanked PM Modi for guiding state leaders and every citizen who stood with Andhra Pradesh.
"This is a victory for my people of Andhra Pradesh, especially my farmers of Amaravati," he said.
"The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati," Naidu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
With the President's assent, IT Minister Nara Lokesh said the dream of our capital has officially become a reality.
"Today is a historic day for every citizen of Andhra Pradesh," Lokesh said in a post on X.
He said that he was joining millions of Telugu people to express his gratitude to PM Modi for his vision and support in championing the state's future.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that April 6 will be etched in history as the day Amaravati was officially recognised as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
"On this historic occasion, following the passage of the Bill in Parliament and the issuance of the Gazette Notification by the Government of India, and with the assent of the Hon'ble President of Bharat, this long-awaited aspiration of the people of Andhra Pradesh has finally been fulfilled," Kalyan said in a post on X.
He thanked Murmu, Modi, and Naidu for making this historic moment possible.
