Belagavi: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Fertilisers Ananth Kumar joined other leaders in objecting to the recent controversial statement of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis that Belagavi is a part of Maharashtra, saying that Fadnavis should not give such statements being in a responsible position.
After attending a programme near Chikkodi, Ananth Kumar said both Maharashtra and Karnataka had agreed to the recommendations of the Meherchand Mahajan Commission and therefore Belagavi, Nipani and Khanapur were integral parts of Karnataka. Highlighting the failures of the state government, he said farmers in areas affected by drought were yet to receive a single paisa from the state government even though the Centre has released Rs 1,540 crores to the state 15 days ago. Without drinking water, people in most rural pockets in affected areas were reeling under a severe crisis, he said accusing the government of failing to tackle the drought.
The BJP is planning to launch a state-wide protest if the state government fails to initiate drought-relief work in all affected areas, he said. According to him, the state government should also spend Rs 280 crore besides the Centre’s funds to ensure that drought-relief work is implemented in the state.
Accusing Siddaramaiah of delaying the implementation of developmental works, Ananth Kumar said the previous Congress government headed by former PM Manmohan Singh, was a government in ‘neutral gear’ while that of PM Narendra Modi was in ‘top gear’. The government of Siddaramaiah was in ‘reverse gear’, he quipped.
