Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (MS) 

Belagavi, Aug 28: Former chief minister (CM) of the state and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah accused the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of not giving any attention to the state, which is reflected in its attitude of not releasing any funds for the flood-affected state. 

Siddaramaiah spoke to the reporters in the city on Wednesday, August 28. He further accused the central government and said, "The aerial survey that was done by the central home minister Amit Shah and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman were just eyewash. In spite of the state getting battered by severe floods for more than 20 days, the center has not released a single rupee." 

"The sanctioning of Rs 1,029 crore by the center was for the drought that the state faced during the previous rabbi crop season, the report for which was submitted to the central government in February 2019 and not for the recent deluge. It should not be confused as the funds released for flood relief as proclaimed by the BJP leaders," said Siddaramaiah. 

The former CM said, "The center should immediately grant Rs 5,000 crore as the devastation occurred in the recent deluge in the state is far worse compared to the damage that the state faced in the years 2005-2006 and 2009." 

Siddaramaiah said that the Prime Minister give priority to visits to foreign countries than handling the devastation that has occurred in the country. He accused that the central government led by Modi is least bothered about the poor, Dalits and farmers of the country. Siddaramaiah stressed that the PM could have done an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts of the state himself but sadly he did not bother. 

Criticizing Modi on the abolition of article 370 and 35A, the former CM said, "The situations were different when these were formed and now. Without understanding this simple fact, the Prime Minister is giving statements which are crazy. The decision to do away with these articles without holding any discussion or all-party meeting, shows the dictatorship of Modi, which is not in the good taste of democracy like India." 

With regard to the rumors of stopping of Indira Canteens by the present BJP government, Siddaramaiah said that the scheme was introduced to feed the poor people of the state and the state government is bound to release the funds. He further said that the amount required to maintain the Indira Canteens is just Rs 300 crore compared to the state budge of Rs 2 lac crore.