BJP meet brings out sharp anti-Siddaramaiah knives, helicopter targetted

Karnataka is facing severe drought, but the CM is busy travelling around in a helicopter, the BJP accused BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje demanded white paper on non-utilisation of central funds released for drought

BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje also demanded Siddaramaiah to stop his aerial surveys to assess the drought conditions. He should instead traverse the drought hit areas by road. "Karnataka is facing its worst drought in the last 40 years, and Siddaramaiah is unabashedly travelling around in a helicopter," she said.

Stating that the Centre had released more than sufficient funds for tackling drought, the state government had however failed to utilise the same. This year alone the Centre had released Rs 1,720 crore for drought relief works. However, more than Rs 1,000 crore had remained unutilised, he accused.

Rubbishing Siddaramaiah's claims that the BJP was making levelling false charges, Karandlaje sought Siddaramaiah to prove himself right by present a white paper in this regard.

She said that the BJP during its two-day executive meet had resolved to tour the entire state under the leadership of its party president B S Yeddyurappa to assess the drought conditions from May 18 onwards. The tour will start from Tumakuru and Yeddyurappa, along with other party leaders, including K S Eshwarappa, will visit all the districts for continuous 36 days. He will spend one day in each district, she added.