From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Shivamogga, May 2: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “remembering and visiting Karnataka only during the elections” while not bothering to respond to the plight of the people during natural disasters.

Addressing a Congress party election rally in support of Geetha Shivarajkumar, daughter of former chief minister S Banagrappa and wife of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, in Shivamogga, the chief minister questioned the contribution of the BJP MP B Y Raghavendra despite being a powerful man in BJP as son of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa.

“BJP MP B Y Raghavendra did not open his mouth in parliament or outside when the State was facing injustice from the Centre and in the devolution of funds or for the development of the district,’ he said predicting a victory for Geetha Shivarajkumar.

The chief minister said the election of B Y Raghavendra as an MP was a “waste” as he along with the 25 BJP MPs from the State remained silent and did not fight for the cause of the State.

He said Modi remembers Karnataka and its people only during elections and forgets the State. “Modi did nothing for the State when it was facing floods, deluge and severe drought. Karnataka has been facing injustice and step motherly treatment under Modi’s 10-year-rule,” he said and predicted that BJP will lose in other states as well.

“The achche din promised by Modi has not dawned at all and the people have
not received Rs 15 lac into their bank accounts as promised by Modi. The price rise is spiralling and people are suffering due to inflation. Farmers have not seen their income being doubled and instead facing problems of survival,” he said.

Demanding drought relief is right, not begging

Siddaramaiah said the Congress government’s demand for drought relief funds from the Centre is not begging but a right under the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Karnataka has suffered one of the worst droughts in last 100 years with over
48 lakh hectares of crop being damaged and the total loss was over Rs 35,000 crore. The State had asked for drought relief funds to the tune of Rs 18,171 crore.

Even though the Centre has recently released barely a quarter of the funds requested after knocking on the doors of the Supreme Court, the government has distributed Rs 2,000 each to 34 lakh farmers from out of its own funds.

AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, KPCC chief D K Shivakumar, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and other leaders attended the rally.