JDS will corner BJP govt on flood relief management: Deve Gowda

Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Friday said JD(S) will corner the BJP government both inside and outside the assembly over flood relief and “delay” in securing funds from the centre.

The JD(S) patriarch claimed a larger opinion was getting shaped against the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, with even staunch BJP and RSS supporters expressing strong displeasure over its “conduct” and “inaction” on the part of party MPs from the state, over the delay in central relief.

Pointing out that he has come through struggle in his long political career, he said JD(S) would take out a padayatra on the flood relief issue here on October 10, in which party leaders, including himself and former MLAs, Zilla and panchayat members, would take part.

“It will be a peaceful protest,” he told reporters.

Gowda said party MLAs and Kumaraswamy would raise the issue in the assembly.”We don’t have any problem in passing of anybills (budget related), but issues should be discussed.”

BJP governments at the Centre and the state have been facing flak from Congress and JDSover “delay” in grant of central funds, despite HomeMinister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and the Inter-ministerial central team visiting the affected regions.

The Opposition has accused the Modi government of showing “apathy” towards Karnataka, despite the state sending 25 BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha.