Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar Lead Congress Protest Over Drought Relief

Congress leaders, including Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, stage protest at the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru over drought relief to be provided by the central government. The State Government alleges "stepmotherly treatment" by the Central Government.

The protest aims to highlight what they perceive as the BJP government's neglectful treatment regarding drought relief. AICC General Secretary and Karnataka State In-charge Ranadeep Singh Surjewala accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of unfairly targeting the state and its farmers.

Surjewala stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking retribution against Kannadigas for ousting the BJP in the last assembly elections. The BJP is engaging in vindictive politics against the farmers and people of Karnataka by withholding drought relief under the NDRF. The people and farmers of Karnataka are suffering injustice and are owed Rs 18,172 crore in drought relief."

The Congress government declared a drought in the state on September 13, 2023, and on September 22, a memorandum was submitted requesting NDRF assistance for relief up to Rs 18,172 crore. A team from the Government of India visited the state and submitted a report on October 25.

On October 25, three state ministers met with the agriculture and home secretaries. On November 13, a drought report was submitted to a high-level committee. Despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 19, where Modi promised to release drought relief funds, no action was taken. The Chief Minister and the state cabinet staged a protest at Janthar Manthar, and on March 23, a case was filed in the Supreme Court seeking justice for the farmers, Surjewala added.