Centre not cooperating as expected, says Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Feb 2 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today expressed displeasure over the United Progressive Alliance Government's attitude towards Karnataka and said it was not to the expected level.

Though he had established a good rapport with most of the UPA Ministers, ''it is unfortunate that several issues have remained undecided despite the State putting maximum efforts...The response of the Centre to the State is not to the expected level,'' he told UNI in an interview on the completion of one year in office of the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the State.

Referring to the serious drought conditions prevailing in the State, the Chief Minister regretted that the Centre had not realised the gravity of the situation. ''As against the State's request for Rs 1,500 crore to tackle the situation, it only gave Rs 250 crore and the State Government had already spent more than Rs 500 crore.'' Several proposals, including those relating to development of Railways in the State, were pending in various Union Ministries, he lamented.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the State stood first in terms of following financial guidelines and the financial position of the State was ''sound and healthy''.

He called for a ''total change in the system'' and felt it could be achieved only through change in mindset among the elected representatives. ''Personally speaking, I am satisfied with whatever measures I have initiated in improving the lots in society in the last one year. But to set right the system, it needed the cooperation of one and all.'' MORE UNI