Bengaluru, April 28 (UNI) On Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, alongside other party leaders, staged a protest at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Vidhana Soudha here.
Their demonstration aimed to denounce the Centre's inadequate response to the drought crisis in Karnataka.
Amidst the gathering, leaders were seen brandishing placards bearing the slogan, "Modi government is betraying Kannadigas by swallowing their tax money."
Holding 'Chombu', the symbolic round water pot signifying emptiness and deception, the leaders accused the Centre of "cheating" Karnataka by failing to provide sufficient relief to combat acute drought conditions.
Shivakumar voiced the state's dissatisfaction, stating that the Centre had not sanctioned the demanded Rs 18,172 crore necessary to mitigate the drought's impact.
The gravity of the situation was emphasized by the state government's declaration of 226 out of 236 Taluks in Karnataka as drought-hit, with crop loss reported in 48 lakh hectares of land.
CM Siddaramaiah revealed that the Union government released a mere fraction of the state's demand, even after the state approached the Supreme Court for intervention. He expressed disappointment that the released amount fell short of a quarter of the state's requirement.
In response to the mounting pressure, Siddaramaiah urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the release of the balance amount. He also extended gratitude to the Supreme Court for its intervention, which compelled the Central government to address the issue of drought relief promptly.
The protest underscores the severity of the drought crisis in Karnataka and highlights the urgent need for adequate support from the Central government.
As the state grapples with the repercussions of widespread drought, the protest serves as a poignant reminder of the responsibility borne by authorities to ensure the welfare of affected citizens.
UNI BDN ARN