The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah conducted a dharna on Tuesday to protest the Centre’s delay in releasing drought relief funds. The demonstration took place in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Vidhana Soudha, the legislative and administrative headquarters of Karnataka, aiming to spotlight the alleged neglect by the BJP-led central government.
Siddaramaiah, along with other Congress leaders including General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of harboring a bias against Karnataka, particularly its agricultural community, by withholding necessary drought relief despite the state suffering its worst drought in a century. “223 out of 240 taluks are affected, yet there has been no adequate response from the Centre,” Siddaramaiah claimed during the protest.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Karnataka had independently provided Rs 650 crore in relief to about 34 lakh farmers, each receiving Rs 2,000, due to the destruction of crops across 48,000 hectares. He criticized the national leaders’ responsiveness to the state’s needs, especially in light of their campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state, using slogans like “Go back Modi” and “Go back Shah” to express their discontent.
On the judicial front, Siddaramaiah expressed gratitude towards the Supreme Court for its recent intervention, which prompted the Centre to assure that the drought relief issue would be addressed promptly after clearance from the Election Commission. The Supreme Court’s observations emphasized the importance of cooperation within India’s federal structure.
This protest and the subsequent legal actions underscore a significant standoff between the Karnataka state government and the central government, highlighting ongoing tensions over fiscal and administrative autonomy, especially in times of environmental crisis.