Kateel slams Kumaraswamy Govt for neglecting flood & drought victims

On Saturday, BJP Karnataka president and the Member of Lok Sabha from Dakshina Kannada constituency, Nalin Kumar Kateel, lashed out at the previous Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government for not doing enough for the flood and drought victims. He stated that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had already sent funds worth Rs. 3,000 crore to the beneficiary accounts through RTGS. Kateel opined that the CM had personally visited the flood-affected areas. At the same time, he accused former CM HD Kumaraswamy of merely promising to release funds. 

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He said, "The state government has released Rs. 3,000 crores and has also sent money to the beneficiary accounts through RTGS. Earlier, the then Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had told people that he would only release funds in accordance with the NDRF guidelines. But, CM BS Yeddyurappa has released the funds already. The Chief Minister has also visited flood-affected areas."

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'Process needs to be followed'

Kateel also spoke about the delay in the Centre's financial grant to Karnataka. He revealed the findings of the survey conducted to ascertain the damage due to the floods. He pegged it at approximately Rs. 30,000 crore.

"It is natural to expect funds from the central government. However, there is a process that needs to be followed. The survey cannot be done at once. Floods have happened at different intervals this year. The survey revealed that flood-related loss in Karnataka is approximately Rs. 30,000 crores," he added.

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Karnataka CM thanks Centre

These remarks of the BJP Karnataka president come in the wake of stringent criticism by opposition parties in the State, accusing the Centre of showing apathy towards Karnataka. On Friday, CM Yediyurappa thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for providing financial assistance of Rs. 1,200 crore.

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(With ANI inputs)