Karnataka CM, Deputy CM did not come to check flood damage in Belagavi, but are coming to eat biriyani: R. Ashok

“Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar did not come to Belagavi when farmers were suffering due to flood damage, but they are coming to eat biriyani tomorrow,” Leader of Opposition R. Ashok said in Naganur village in Belagavi district on October 3 while interacting with some farmers and discussing the flood damage.

“These leaders did not come when all of you were suffering due to floods. But they are coming to inaugurate development projects in Belagavi on October 4. They will make merry, eat biriyani and leave for Bengaluru. But we are not like that. We have come to listen to your grievances, and look at the flood damage,” he said.

“Farmers in Belagavi have been suffering for two months. Districts officers like the Deputy Commissioner and tahsildars did not come to your village then. They have come now, just because we are visiting,” he said.

On the State Government’s allegation that the Union Government has not released funds for calamity relief compensation, he said, “The Union Government has not failed in its duty of distributing crop loss compensation and other funds as per National Disaster Response Fund norms.”

Mr. Ashok accused the State Government of diverting these funds for its guarantee scheme payouts.

He was accompanied by Lok Sabha member Ramesh Jigajinagi, Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi, MLAs Vithal Halgekar and Shashikala Jolle, MLCs C. T. Ravi and N. Ravikumar.