Bengaluru: In response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision to conduct a state-wide study tour to assess the drought situation in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has criticized the move as a farce. He alleged that the state BJP leaders lacked faith in the central drought study team and, instead of appealing for relief from the central government, were conducting their assessment within the state.
Siddaramaiah challenged the BJP leaders, stating, “Don’t you trust your own government’s drought study team?” He emphasized that the Karnataka government estimated a drought-related loss of around ₹33,770 crore and had requested ₹17,901 crore in relief from the Union government, but no funds had been received yet.
The Chief Minister questioned the BJP’s commitment to the state’s farmers, urging them to first demand relief from the central government. He criticized BJP MPs for not taking action and advised them to tour Delhi and meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the relief funds. Siddaramaiah emphasized that the people affected by drought needed tangible relief, not empty political gestures, and expressed skepticism about the BJP’s intentions in using the drought situation for political gains.
The BJP’s planned study tour, scheduled from November 3 to 10, involves prominent leaders, including former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel, assessing the drought conditions across Karnataka.
