Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Feb 20: Fourth day of the current assembly session is in full swing. Former CM Siddaramaiah accused the BJP government of totally failing in giving flood relief funds to the victims of last year’s deluge.

Surprisingly, Siddaramaiah's statement was supported by BJP MLA Ananda Mamani also.

Siddaramaiah said, "The victims of flood of last year have still not received any monetary help. First time when there was flood, the relief was given. When the floods hit for the second time, no relief is given. Properties are damaged on a huge scale due to the floods."

Siddaramaiah accused education minister Suresh Kumar and said, "You said that more than 7,777 classrooms of primary schools have collapsed and Rs 1,500 crore is required to repair the same. However, only Rs 199 crore is spent on them so far."

Responding to the accusation by Siddaramaiah, education minister Suresh Kumar said, "6,630 classrooms are rebuilt. We have released 700 crore for the purpose. Now we will build the whole buildings that have collapsed."

Siddaramaiah further accused Suresh Kumar and said, "Karnataka is the third highest tax payer after Maharashtra and Delhi to the union government. However, the central government has released only crumbs when the state was affected with severe floods. Why the state BJP government has not shown any determination in bringing the funds from centre, even though the union government also is ruled by their party?

"Rs 17,600 crore shortage is done in the grant to the state of Karnataka from the centre. According to the interim recommendation of the 15th finance commission, the state is going to get Rs 11,000 crore less grant from the center next year. You have mentioned that there is financial crisis in the state treasury. Accept it boldly."