Siddu, HDK flay Modi meet in Davangere

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken a dig at the BJP splurging on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convention in Davnagere at a time when the state is reeling under drought.

The BJP has organised the convention on May 29 to celebrate two years of its government at the centre.

‘Cong fete cancelled’
Speaking to the media Monday in Mysuru, the chief minister said that the state government had cancelled the convention to celebrate the completion of three years of Congress rule in the state in view of the prevailing drought.

“It is exactly opposite in the case of the BJP which is spending crores of rupees in hosting the convention.”

Compared to other states, Karnataka has received less financial assistance from the Centre towards drought relief, he said.

Dalit chief minister
Siddaramaiah refused to reply to a question on the demand for a dalit chief minister in the state. Siddaramaiah pooh-poohed the state BJP unit president B S Yeddyurappa’s recent comment on keeping the Congress out of power beyond the Opposition benches.

“That was exactly what had happened to the BJP after the previous elections - when it was way behind JD(S) in the Assembly. It was only after the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) merged with the BJP did the latter assume the status of the main opposition party.”

Former chief minister and state president of the Janata Dal (Secular) H D Kumaraswamy too criticised the BJP’s convention. Kumaraswamy, who initially refused to comment on the convention, asked the media to put the poser before BJP state unit president Yeddyurappa.
DH News Service