H D Kumaraswamy urges govt to announce flood relief package immediately

Slamming the Congress government in Karnataka for its response to the floods in Kalyana Karnataka, Union Steel and Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday urged the state government to immediately announce a relief package.

“While the people of Kalyana Karnataka face a flood crisis, the state government remains in a deep ‘Kumbhakarna sleep’ (deep slumber),” Kumaraswamy told the media here.

He added, “Only after criticism from the media and Opposition parties did the chief minister conduct an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts. But floods are an annual problem, and for the past three months, this government has been in deep slumber.”

Kumaraswamy criticised the chief minister’s response towards the Opposition parties demanding relief, saying,
“Will abusing the Opposition solve the problems of flood victims?”

He suggested that the CM should depute senior ministers to flood-hit districts to supervise relief work.

“Had I not been facing health issues, I would have visited the flood-affected areas much earlier. I was ready to go two days ago, but officials advised against it due to bad weather,” he said.

Describing the situation, Kumaraswamy said, “Widespread devastation has occurred in the flood-hit districts. Entire villages are submerged, and people have suffered for days. This has been a recurring problem for ten years. Despite such catastrophic floods this time, no
minister has visited the affected areas.”

He also pointed to destruction in Chikkamagaluru district due to rains, where crops and homes were lost, yet the government has not extended help.

Kumaraswamy urged the state government to submit a proper memorandum to the Centre and assured that he would pursue maximum assistance from the Union Government.

“So far, not a single minister or official from the state has met Union Ministers representing Karnataka in Delhi,” he said.