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The Karnataka government’s proposed all-party delegation to meet the Union government over drought relief has run into opposition, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] refusing to be part of it. On Sunday, September 27, Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka said they would not join the delegation, which is expected to seek financial assistance for drought-hit Karnataka.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is leaving for Delhi on Monday, September 28, to attend the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29. He had earlier said the Karnataka government was seeking a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an all-party delegation from the state to press for drought relief.
The proposal was announced by the Chief Minister at the end of the four-day special session of the Karnataka Legislature, during which the drought situation, farm distress, and the Kasturirangan Committee report were discussed.
Kumaraswamy questioned the need for an all-party delegation, saying state representatives could approach the Union government on their own.
“What will you do by taking an all-party delegation to the Union government? It will add to the expenditure of the exchequer. Spending on flights and staying in star-category hotels is an unnecessary expenditure. Could someone not go and speak to the Union government?” he told reporters on Sunday.
Kumaraswamy also said he would not describe Karnataka as bankrupt, but accused the Congress government of having depleted the state’s finances.
Ashoka, meanwhile, said the BJP would not join the delegation to seek drought relief funds from the Union government. “We are ready to meet the Union Minister with respect to the Kasturirangan report. We will not be part of the drought delegation,” he said.
He also accused the Congress government of lacking commitment towards helping drought-hit farmers in Karnataka.
The Opposition parties’ refusal comes as Karnataka awaits an assessment of the drought situation by teams constituted by the Union government. In its first memorandum to the Union government, the state estimated drought-related losses at around Rs 18,000 crore and sought approximately Rs 3,800 crore in financial assistance.
A Union government team is scheduled to arrive in Karnataka on October 3 to assess the drought situation. Three Inter-Ministerial Central Teams will visit drought-affected areas for three days from October 4 and will hold discussions with Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on October 7.
The teams will assess crop damage and geographical conditions across the affected districts. One team will visit Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davangere, and Vijayanagara; the second will visit Hassan, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagar and may include Mandya; and the third will visit Yadgir, Bagalkote, Raichur, and Koppal.
Of Karnataka’s 240 taluks, 177 have already been declared drought-affected, while ground-truthing exercises are underway in another 50 taluks.