'Unprecedented For K'taka CM To Take Entire Cabinet To Delhi': Bommai Attacks Siddaramaiah

Former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai Thursday, August 3, took on the Karnataka government saying that it was unprecedented for a Karnataka CM to be taking his entire cabinet to Delhi. Attacking the Congress-led state government, Bommai said, "Siddaramaiah taking his entire cabinet to Delhi is unprecedented. Never in the history of Karnataka politics, has a Chief Minister taken his entire cabinet to the party headquarters. This shows that all is not well in Karnataka. There are charges made by party workers, MLAs. There is rampant corruption and charges have also been levelled."

While talking to the media, Bommai said, "Other than the Chief Minister holding a video conference, no other action has happened."

Earlier this week, Bommai had slammed the state government over how it handled the state's rain and flood issue and how it brought relief to the people, alleging that those in charge were engaged in politics to maintain their position. "The majority of Siddaramaiah’s time is spent in resolving conflicts inside the administration, and the whole government is engaged in transfer business," Bommai had said. 

The former chief minister asserted that while law and order conditions hag got worse in the state, there was "competition and bargaining" in the administration about the "transfer corruption business" (transfer of government personnel).

Bommai alleged that people whose homes were damaged in the floods were yet to receive the immediate assistance of Rs 10,000. "No first estimate of agricultural damage has been made, no one is paying attention to the death toll, and ministers have not travelled to areas hit by flooding or heavy rain," he said.

"No action has been taken to help farmers in drought-affected areas to obtain seeds and fertilisers for alternative farming, and those in government are preoccupied with politics in an effort to maintain their positions. At a time when people are in distress, the state government has not come forward to rescue them. So, I urge the government to ensure that ministers visit affected areas, provide relief to those in distress," he added.

"During our (BJP) government, we had provided Rs 5 lakh to those whose houses have been fully damaged. It should be continued and Rs 10,000 should be given as immediate relief," he added. 

Bommai asserted that the state's anti-social elements operate fearlessly as a result of backing from the ruling party. "There is no fear of the law, and the state of law and order has become worse," he claimed, accusing the government of completely failing in law and order maintenance. People would act on their own, he warned, if measures against corrupt officials and others responsible for such behaviour are not implemented.

(With PTI inputs)