Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of mendacity concerning the delay in releasing drought aid funds because of the Mannequin Code of Conduct (MCC) and termed it as an “injustice” to the folks of the state. Siddaramaiah’s feedback come after Sitharaman defended the Centre’s stance, stating that the delay in releasing funds was as a result of procedural causes and the imposition of the MCC.
Addressing reporters, Sitharaman had defined the timeline of occasions, informing that the central authorities had sought approval from the Election Fee (EC) on March 28 to convene a high-level committee for drought aid. Siddaramaiah countered Sitharaman’s claims, stating that Karnataka had submitted its memorandum for drought aid in December and highlighted the state’s vital tax contributions to the Centre, information company PTI reported.
Regardless of Karnataka’s excessive tax collections, Siddaramaiah lamented the dearth of aid from the central authorities.
“You please give a thought. Narendra Modi is Prime Minister for 10 years. Has he achieved something for Bengaluru? He didn’t offer you ingesting water,” the Karnataka Chief Minister mentioned throughout an election marketing campaign for Congress’s Bengaluru North Lok Sabha candidate Professor M V Rajeev Gowda, as quoted by PTI.
He highlighted that Rs 4.30 lakh crore goes to the Centre as tax from Karnataka.
“Once we ask for extra (share) from our tax cash and aid quantity for drought mitigation, they lie,” CM Siddaramaiah remarked.
In keeping with him, the Karnataka Income Minister, Krishna Byre Gowda, expressed readiness for an open dialogue on the matter, however Sitharaman didn’t attend. Siddaramaiah accused Sitharaman of mendacity and avoiding the reality, alleging that she failed to deal with the state’s considerations adequately.
“Shouldn’t Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attend it or not? She didn’t flip up. Yesterday she was right here in Bengaluru. (She didn’t come) as a result of she has lied, now she can’t inform the reality,” he added. “She has spoken yet one more huge lie. Once we requested why no aid quantity was given for drought aid, she mentioned that the election code of conduct has are available in the way in which…however we had submitted a memorandum for drought aid in September (2023),” CM Siddaramaiah remarked, as quoted by PTI.
“We had sought the aid quantity in December. But, not a single rupee was launched (for drought aid in Karnataka). Isn’t it injustice to the folks of Karnataka?” he requested.
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Nirmala Sitharaman Has Admitted That Drought Reduction Is Delayed: Karnataka Deputy CM D Ok Shivakumar
Authorities officers declared drought in 226 out of 236 taluks in Karnataka, with a number of appeals submitted to the Centre for aid funds. Regardless of these efforts, no funds have been launched, resulting in frustration amongst state officers and leaders.
Deputy Chief Minister D Ok Shivakumar criticised Sitharaman’s statements, accusing the Centre of injustice in direction of Karnataka. Shivakumar highlighted the timing of Karnataka’s attraction for aid, refuting Sitharaman’s claims concerning the affect of the MCC on fund launch.
“Nirmala Sitharaman has mentioned that the announcement of common elections delayed drought aid funds to Karnataka. What’s the connection between elections and drought aid? By saying this, she has admitted that drought aid is delayed and Centre has achieved injustice to Karnataka. She was accusing the state of not doing sufficient for drought aid,” Shivakumar mentioned.
He additionally contended that the Karnataka authorities submitted the drought aid attraction 4 months in the past when there was no Mannequin Code of Conduct.
“Now she is giving the pretext of code of conduct. Individuals are conscious of the injustice of the Centre. This justifies D Ok Suresh’s ‘Our tax, our proper’ marketing campaign, because of her, he mentioned in an announcement, as per PTI.