Prime Minister Narendra Modi was criticised by the Congress and JD(S) in Karnataka on Tuesday for alleged apathy towards the state in terms of flood relief funds from the union government. The criticism comes after Prime Minister Modi discussed the flood situation in Bihar with the Chief Minister of the state Nitish Kuma,r and said the central government is "ready to provide all possible help.”
"Spoke to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Agencies are working with local administration to assist the affected. Centre stands ready to provide all possible further assistance that may be required," read a tweet posted by PM Modi's official Twitter account.
Spoke to Bihar CM @NitishKumar Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Agencies are working with local administration to assist the affected. Centre stands ready to provide all possible further assistance that may be required.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 30, 2019
In response, Congress and JD(S) leaders in Karnataka criticised the Prime Minister for not providing relief for flood-hit residents in Karnataka. "On days like these, we cannot but wonder if Bihar's 40 seats vis-a-vis Karnataka's paltry 28, is the reason why Nitish Kumar gets a call, but BSY's repeated efforts to talk about Karnataka floods get rejected," read a tweet by former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.
On days like these, we cannot but wonder if Bihar's 40 seats vis-a-vis Karnataka's paltry 28, is the reason why Nitish Kumar gets a call, but @BSYBJP's repeated efforts to talk about Karnataka floods get rejected.
— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) October 1, 2019
We are also in this nation, sir. ನೀವು ಮಾಡ್ತಿರೋದು ಏನೂ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿಲ್ಲ! https://t.co/XqIAZA98Ar
Karnataka Congress' official social media handle also questioned why flood relief was not provided in the state more than two months after floods and landslides affected the northern, coastal and Malnad regions of the state.
.@narendramodi calls Bihar CM & promises relief for floods.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) October 1, 2019
While Karnataka has been reeling under floods for more than 60 days with damages of more than 35000Crs
Our CM has neither received any aid nor an appointment from PM
Don"t we deserve some respect?#ModiMissing
Since Day 1, Karnataka Congress has been asking for interim relief of ₹5000 cr be declared for relief operations.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) October 1, 2019
It's Day 50 now, yet not a rupee has been provided.
Karnataka, a top tax contributing state has been ignored.#Justice4Karnataka#NorthKarnatakaBelongsToIndia
Even the Janata Dal (Secular) claimed that Prime Minister Modi was "turning a blind eye" towards Karnataka.
.@narendramodi avare, why can't you show similar interest in helping Karnataka? You visit Karnataka multiple times during elections but you do not want to be part of the sorrow of people now?
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) October 1, 2019
How dare you say "ಎಲ್ಲ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ" and turn a blind eye towards Kannadigas?#ModiMosa https://t.co/AsATM1m21v
Forced into damage control mode, the office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to social media to state that an Inter-ministerial Central Team (IMCT) assessed the damage caused by the rains and floods in Karnataka at the end of August and that the report is being finalised.
Status of the report of the Inter-ministerial Central Team (IMCT) on assessment of damage caused due to rains and landslides in Karnataka.
— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) October 1, 2019
1) The IMCT visited five districts of Karnataka from 24 to 27 August, 2019. (1/2)
2) The team called on Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri @BSYBJP and also met senior officials of the State Government.
— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) October 1, 2019
3) The Karnataka Government submitted a memorandum on 2nd September, 2019.
4) The report of the IMCT is under finalization. (2/2)
The floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in August affected 21 of the 30 districts in the state and took the lives of more than 60 people. More than 4 lakh residents of the state were displaced by the disaster which was termed as unprecedented in the state's history.
Read: Karnataka records highest rainfall in 118 years from Aug 3-10
The state government estimated the damage to crops and infrastructure due to the heavy rains at Rs 3,845.11 crore and sought relief funds from the union government. This included damages to both public and private buildings. However, the union government asked the state to send a revised report since relief cannot be sanctioned for damages to private infrastructure.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa admitted on Monday that he was walking a "tightrope" when asked about the lack of flood relief measures from the union government. Funds from as many as 39 departments in the state have been re-allocated for flood relief measures for rebuilding homes for Dalit and Adivasi communities.
Read: No funds yet from Centre for flood relief, Karnataka diverts money from 39 departments