Kodagu floods: Dy CM alleges step-motherly attitude by Centre

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday questioned why the Centre has so far not announced any aid for those affected by the floods in the state.

“When Centre can announce Rs 600 Crore for Kerala even before getting the report from that state, why not for Kodagu where the devastation has thrown thousands of people to the streets,” he said and termed it as a step-motherly attitude on the part of the Centre. 

Parameshwara was speaking to media persons after flagging off relief materials, donated by Siddartha Education Trust for the flood victims. The state has not received any financial assistance from the Centre to combat the crisis, he said, adding that it had despatched NDRF personnel to carry rescue and relief works.

Nearly 17 people have died and several left homeless because of the incessant rains and landslips that wreaked havoc in the Kodagu district and surrounding Malnad region.

Regarding the row over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s itinerary for Kodagu visit, Parameshwara said that the  Rajya Sabha elect from Karnataka should not have snubbed Kodagu District Incharge Minister Sa Ra. “She should have taken the lead in speaking to the prime minister and getting relief funds sanctioned at the earliest. She should take 18 BJP Lok Sabha members from Karnataka in a delegation to Mr Modi and convince him. Instead of doing it politicising the serious issue was undesirable,” he said.