K'taka Reddys forget about promised flood relief

Bangalore, Jul 24: In a disgraceful flip-flop, the state revenue minister Gali Karunakara Reddy, who was one among the Reddy fraction that in 2009 vowed to build 50,000 houses for the flood-affected people, has said there was no such promise made.

"We have not made any such promise," the minister said on Thursday, Jul 22 when asked about the promise made by him along with two other Bellary Reddys - his brother and tourism minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and health minister B Sriramulu.

"We can remember only if we had made the promise right?" he shot back.

To a question on his brother, G Janardhana Reddy's reiteration of the promise, the minister said, "Go and ask Janardhana Reddy if he had made such a promise. I need not answer all your questions."

Heavy rains leading to flash flood killed over 200 people in Karnataka and destroyed at least 5,00,000 houses in Sep-Oct 2009. Over million people were left homeless in the natural disaster that struck the neigbouring state as well.

Oct 2009: Amid their ongoing campaign to dethrone the Chief Minister, BS Yeddyurappa, the Bellary mining lords had launched a programme for constructing 50,000 houses from the contributions of the mining lobby

This programme was initiated even before the state government could kick start its own 'Asare' rehabilitation programme.

It should be noted that the Reddys had their strongholds in the areas, which were worst affected by the floods, including Bellary, Raichur and Gadag.

Oct 27, 2009: The Reddys further fueled their political war by declaring that they were launching their rehabilitation programme under the leadership of Karunakara Reddy.

Janardharana Reddy, who declared that the programmed was launched under the leadership of his elder brother "since he was the revenue minister" said that they were contributing Rs 500 crore for the construction of 50,000 houses in six districts.

The districts that were supposed to receive the aid were Bellary, Koppal, Raichur, Gadag, Bagalkot and Bijapur.

Oct 28, 2009: Defying the CM, the Reddys conducted ceremony to begin the construction og houses in Bellary.

Besides this, the tourism minister also ridiculed BSY for "begging" for funds from people for relief efforts.

Oct 29, 2009: Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu undertook a pooja to begin the permanent shifting of Malawad and US Hadagali in Gadag's Ron taluk.

OneIndia News