Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of discrimination in allocating funds and questioned his moral authority to seek votes from the people of Karnataka.
The CM’s remarks came in response to the Election Commission’s notice to his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah for allegedly making derogatory comments against Amit Shah.
Siddaramaiah highlighted various instances where he believes the central government has failed to provide adequate support, including issues related to the Mekedatu project, the Mahadayi river water dispute, relief from the 15th Finance Commission, and funding for the Upper Bhadra Project.
“Has he (Amit Shah) given a relief fund for drought? What moral rights does he have to ask for votes from the Karnataka people? “Shouldn’t HD Kumaraswamy ask for money and then tell them to come to Karnataka?
“Amit Shah is only the chairman. Have they permitted Mekedatu? For Mahadayi have they given clearance? 15th Finance Commission relief provided? Upper Bhadra Project fund given? Why should they be voted? Amit Shah has no moral right,” he told reporters.
Siddaramaiah asserted that despite the severe drought conditions the state faced over the last five months, the central government did not provide any relief funds.
He emphasised that the state government made three formal appeals through memoranda, and he met both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to discuss the issue.
The Chief Minister questioned whether such efforts to secure necessary relief funds for the state constitute begging, highlighting that the funds being requested are essentially the taxes paid by the people of Karnataka.
“In the last five months, when Karnataka suffered the worst drought, the Centre did not provide relief funds. We gave three memoranda. I met PM and Amit Shah also. Are we begging? It is our tax money,” he said.
