CM, Cong leaders protest against Centre over non-release of relief funds ahead of Amit Shah’s visit

BENGALURU: Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Bengaluru, Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday staged a protest over drought relief to be provided by the central government in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises.

The state government alleges “stepmotherly treatment” by the central government. Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka’s farmers are suffering due to the drought and blamed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not providing drought relief.

“Farmers are suffering due to the drought. So far, we have disbursed Rs 650 crore to our farmers. Nirmala Sitharaman and Narendra Modi are the reasons why Karnataka has not been given relief”, he said while addressing the media.

Randeep Surjewala accused the Modi government of seeking revenge against farmers and the people of Karnataka by not releasing funds for drought relief.

He also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that he has no right to step on the soil of Karnataka without releasing Rs 18,172 crore for drought relief.

“Huge injustice is being done to Karnataka. The Modi government is seeking revenge against Karnataka’s farmers and people. This vendetta politics, this politics of malice of the BJP. Amit Shah is coming today; he has no right to set his foot on this soil of Karnataka, without releasing Rs 18172 crore. That’s why our Chief Minister is sitting here. Justice for Karnataka will have to be done. The Modi government’s enmity towards Karnataka has to end… How can Amit Shah come to Karnataka without releasing our money?”

Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad said the state went to the Supreme Court and the Modi government agreed to release compensation this week. Arshad questioned if going to court for their rights was necessary.

“We are in severe drought, 95 per cent of Karnataka is in severe drought… We had no rain for the last 10 months. So, why has PM Modi not given us compensation…? What is it that is making you against Karnataka? So, we had to go to the Supreme Court. Now, the Supreme Court has given a direction. So, the Modi government has agreed to release the compensation this week. Do we have to go to court for our rights?” he said.

“Why are we sitting on a dharna? Because this should not be repeated. They cannot keep discriminating against south Indian states,” he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to campaign at the Bengaluru South constituency on Tuesday. BJP’s Tejasvi Surya is up against Soumya Reddy of the Congress in this constituency. (ANI)