Karnataka MPs protest for drought relief

 Seeking a Rs 2,606 crore drought relief package, Karnataka MPs today held a protest in Parliament premises.

"Karnataka is reeling under severe drought and we have sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to save the farmers of the state. We have already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister and have asked for Rs 2,606 crore as drought relief package," BJP leader Ananth Kumar told reporters.

About the Prime Minister's response, he said the "Prime Minister heard us and said that he would talk to the Home Minister about it."

Cutting across party lines, protesting MPs held the protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Parliament premises and raised slogans like, "We want justice for Karnataka in the Cauvery river dispute."

Kumar said 124 tehsils of the state are hit by the drought.

Injustice is being done to Kerala on the Cauvery water issue, he said. Besides Karnataka, MPs from Kerala also held a sit-in demonstration in front of the Gandhi statute demanding passing of a bill for private nurses.