Shivakumar Slams BJP, JD(S) for Declining to Join Karnataka's All-Party Delegation to Meet Modi on Drought Relief

New Delhi: Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday (September 28) slammed the opposition parties in the state – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) – after they said that they will not be a part of the state government's proposed all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the Union government's assistance for drought.

At the close of a four-day special session on drought, farm distress and the Kasturirangan Committee report, Shivakumar had announced the proposal. He suggested that the state government was trying to get an appointment with the prime minister for a delegation meeting.

Shivakumar is scheduled to travel to Delhi on Monday for a Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday.

"If they are not joining it means they are not interested in farmers. They know that they are not able to speak to the leaders. They don't have a face," the Karnataka chief minister told reporters.

He added, "If they say they will not join in this drought issue then they should understand what that means. For them, everything about the farmers of this state is just lies and a drama. They keep saying give this much and that much to farmers. I have already said that if you get it done, we will also give it. They should come and get it done."

On Sunday, Union minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy argued that there was no need for a delegation of this kind and that state representatives could go to the Union government on their own.

"What will you do by taking an all-party delegation to the Union government? It will add to the expenditure of the exchequer. Spending on flights and stay in star-category hotels is an unnecessary expenditure. Could someone not go and speak to the Union government?" he told reporters.

"It is you [the Karnataka government] who has been sitting on an empty treasury," Kumaraswamy added.

Similarly, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok said his party would not approach the Union government for drought funds.

"We are ready to meet the Union minister with respect to the Kasturirangan report. We will not be part of the drought delegation," he said. He also accused the Congress government of not being committed to helping drought-hit farmers in the state.

So far, 177 of the state's 240 taluks have been declared drought-affected. The state government has announced a package of Rs 1,250 crore as a one-time relief to approximately 50 lakh farmers.

Deputy chief minister and revenue minister G. Parameshwara has said more than 200 taluks could end up being declared drought-hit, with losses estimated at about Rs 40,000 crore.

Karnataka has already sent its first memorandum on the drought to the Modi government, putting the loss at around Rs 18,000 crore and asking for about Rs 3,800 crore in assistance.

As per reports, a Union government delegation comprising of three inter-ministerial sub-teams will visit the state to assess the situation on ground from October 3-6. One will cover Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davangere and Vijayanagara; the second will go to Hassan, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar, and possibly Mandya; the third will visit Yadgir, Bagalkote, Raichur and Koppal.

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