MYSURU: JD (S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy alleged on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa were not in good terms and that a trust deficit between them was the cause for a delay in release of funds by the Union government for relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-hit areas.
He told the media here: “The Chief Minister's inability to meet the Prime Minister gives an indication that there is lack of trust between the two. When I was the Chief Minister, during floods in Kodagu last year, the Prime Minister was in constant touch with me over the phone. But now, when their own party member has become Chief Minister, the delay in release of funds only indicates that Mr Yediyurappa and Mr Modi do not seem to be in good terms.”
The JD (S) leader lambasted Mr Yediyurappa over his statement that the previous government had emptied the treasury. "He is saying the government’s treasury is empty. I too served as Chief Minister for 14 months, and I know that our treasury is full. During floods, relief works were implemented without depending on the Union government. There is no financial problem for the government to carry out flood relief works," he said adding that relief operations could be executed with tax payers’ money available with the state government.
Mr Kumaraswamy sarcastically remarked “he has to clarify if the treasury of the state or his family’s treasury got emptied. At one place, he says the state’s financial position is sound, but at another place, he claims the state’s treasury is empty. There is no need for them to wait for central funds. The state government can manage it, as there is no financial crisis”.
On Mr Yediyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra’s allegation that the previous governments looted the state’s treasury, Mr Kumaraswamy said “May be his treasury is empty and he only knows to fill it, and he is running around to fill it.”
