Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 20: KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao slammed Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa for failing to address the issues of the flood-affected people in the state and asked him to resign.
Speaking to media on Monday, he called the BJP government a failure at the State and the Centre. “In Karnataka the one-man government failed to safeguard people’s interests. Meanwhile, at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is insensitive and continues to maintain his silence on the damage the floods caused in the southern states of India,” he said.
Rao called Modi’s attitude of not condoling the loss of lives and damage due to floods as shocking. The Centre has not released any funds towards relief work. However, if anyone dares to speak against Modi, they will be called as anti-Hindu and traitor.
Rao said that Yediyurappa could have convened an all-party meeting and taken a delegation of leaders of all the three parties to New Delhi to urge the Centre to release funds towards flood relief works. However, he has failed to do so.
“Let the State government ask the Centre to release Rs 5,000 crore as interim relief for floods in Karnataka. If not, let the CM resign,” lashed out Rao.
Rao opined that incase the State cabinet was formed and the district in-charge ministers were appointed, it would have led to better handling of the flood situation. He praised the deputy commissioners for handling the flood situation effectively but said if the district in-charge ministers were appointed, it would have made a drastic difference.
The KPCC president compared former PM Manmohan Singh to Modi. When Singh was the PM, he not only visited the flood-affected areas in 2009 but was quick to release more than Rs 2,000 crore towards flood relief works. However, Modi government has failed to show the same concern and commitment, he said.
When questioned on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Karnataka, Rao said even though they saw the devastation, they have not made an announcement of funds for relief work.
With regard to the phone tapping cases, he said State Congress does not have any objection on CBI taking up the case. “But won’t it portray poorly on the state police? It conveys a wrong message that the Karnataka police can’t handle such a small case,” he said.