Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Udupi, Jan 12: BJP vice-president and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday January 12 said that though there was acute drought situation in nine states, the union government still gave preference to Congress-ruled Karnataka in releasing relief funds of Rs 1,540 crore, on the request of state BJP leaders.
Addressing a press meet here, Yeddyurappa said, "As many as 136 taluks in Karnataka are facing drought and 950 farmers have committed suicide. The chief minister is claiming that the union government is not releasing relief funds. However, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state last week, we requested him to provide drought relief of Rs 1,540 crore, and it was done within 48 hours and we were informed about it over the phone. Hence, the PM should not be targetted over this and I strongly condemn it.
"There is acute drought situation in nine states, still the union government gave preference to Congress-ruled Karnataka and released the funds. Karnataka faced drought even when I was the chief minister, and at that time Congress president Sonia Gandhi had come to inspect the situation on helicoptor. But we did not ask her to release funds, and she did not give any either. We (BJP leaders) ourselves collected the funds from public by descending on streets. We were able to spend Rs 3,500 crore on development of 76 villages," he said.
"Rural development minister H K Patil has admitted that Rs 3,600 crore released by the union government for the state has been misused. Still, no action has been taken against the officials," he added.
"Law and order has completely deteriorated in the state. There are repeated incidents of murders but no one is bothered and no action is being taken. In Beltangady, an elderly couple was murdered; such incidents of crime are on the increase especially in Mangaluru and Udupi," he said.
He also claimed that Congress was trying to postpone the zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections as it 'fears losing'.
Commenting on the Lokayukta issue, he said, "False allegations were levelled against Upalokayukta Subhash Adi and he was made a scapegoat. It is condemnable. Now others may hesitate to take up the posts of Lokayukta or Upalokayukta in the state. Attempts are being made to dissolve the institution of Lokayukta, which is highly condemnable."
On the possibility of him becoming state president of BJP, he said, "I have told the party leaders that I will tour the state in order to strengthen the party. The decision is up to the party high command."
Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje, district BJP president Tingale Vikramarjuna Hegde and others were present.