Bangalore: Sonia's Visit to Drought-hit Nagasamudra Dubbed 'Eye-Wash'
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 30: Karnataka’s Rural Development and Pnachayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar termed Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the drought-hit village of Nagasamudra in Chitradurga district as an ''eye wash."
The State would not gain anything from the Congress President’s visit even though she controls the Congress-led UPA regime in Delhi, he said.
Shettar said Gandhi visited the State keeping an eye on the next elections to the State Legislative Assembly and obviously wanted to win over the politically powerful Lingayat community, which is firmly rooted to the ruling BJP in the State.
''People and voters of Karnataka are intelligent to see through the gimmick. They cannot be taken for granted,” he said.
He took exception to Gandhi’s statement on release of the Central assistance of Rs 98,000 crore to the State in the last seven years.
“Can the drought situation be assessed in about fifteen minutes?,” he asked referring to Gandhi’s visit to Nagadevanahalli in Chitradurga district on April 28.
Shettar said the state government had so far released Rs 400 crore for relief works.
''Drought relief works are on. They are being implemented satisfactorily,” he said rejecting the opposition allegation of tardy progress.
According to reports received by the State Govenment from district authorities, about 400 villages faced drinking water shortage and efforts were on to ensure supply through tankers, the Minister said.
The government had been implementing 217 drinking water schemes at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore in the state and they are at various stages of execution, he said.
The State Government would soon submit yet another memorandum to the Centre seeking financial assistance for drought relief works, he said and challenged Gandhi to ensure that the UPA regime generously responded to the State’s demands.