From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 3: A day after virtually placing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an embarrassing position for not responding to his request for sanction of Central grants for flood relief works, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has now come out with an official clarification saying the Prime Minister has ‘promised to consider the demands of our State’.

Yediyruappa in his statement to the media sought to clarify that there was nothing wrong in placing facts before the Prime Minister.

“A section of media has attached motive to my speech which was plain and honest in its content. Being in federal set up, there is nothing wrong in placing the facts before the Prime Minister and making submissions,’’ the Chief Minister said.

“As a Chief Minister, I placed our State's problems and need of more funds for the developmental activities. I pleaded before the Prime Minister for more funds to the relief works, scientific and remunerative price for the farm produces, and special fund of Rs 50,000 crore for speeding up of on-going irrigation works,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister explained that ‘he felt it worthy and timely to plead with the Prime Minister for more funds to all the developmental activities in the State’ as the occasion was a farmers meet.

“Undoubtedly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great visionary and his concern for the poor and farmers is unquestionable,’’ Yediyurappa declared.

He went on to extoll the virtues of Modi by praising him, “When whole world is appreciating his statesmanship and visionary zeal, it is in very bad taste for the media to attribute motives to my speech and relate it to prime minister.’’

Yediyurappa made it clear that, “In fact, the Prime Minister spoke to me personally and assured me of all help and suggested I come to New Delhi and meet the concerned Ministers and apprise them about the state’s problems and pending projects. He also directed me to prepare a detail report on this matter.”

“I humbly request the electronic and print media not to misinterpret but support the government in the interest of development of state and interests of the people. I hope media will respond to my request,’’ the Chief Minister added.

The tone and tenor of the clarification issued by the Chief Minister through his office apparently suggests that he was asked to send a statement so that the Prime Minister’s name was not tarnished and provide an opportunity to the Opposition parties, especially the Congress for criticizing Modi was neglecting and ignoring Karnataka even while the State had suffered its worst-ever flood havoc.