'Will Quit If Proved There Was Delay': Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Tells Amit Shah Over Govt's Drought Relief

On Tuesday, Amit Shah addressing party workers in Bengaluru said that the state delayed sending a drought proposal to the Centre by three months.

Siddaramaiah, speaking in Mysuru, mentioned submitting three memorandums in October and meeting with the Prime Minister and Amit Shah in December regarding drought relief

Source : Facebook/@Siddaramaiah

Dismissing the charge on drought relief made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during election campaign on Tuesday, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said he would quit the post if it's proved that there was a delay by his government in submitting the proposal to the Centre seeking drought relief. 

On Tuesday, Amit Shah addressing party workers in Bengaluru said that the state delayed sending a proposal on drought to the Centre by three months and "today the application for drought relief from the Centre is with the Election Commission".

Further, he accused Congress government of doing politics over the issue. 

Responding to the accusation, Siddaramaiah said that Shah was"lying" and asked whether the Union Minister would resign if this was proven.

"In September we had given the first memorandum, in October the central team (inter-ministerial central team -IMCT) had come (to state), they too had given their report on October 20 (to central government), if it is a lie, I will resign, will he (Shah) give (resignation)? Will Amit Shah resign? ask him. Let him decide," the Chief Minister said, as per a report on PTI.

Siddaramaiah, speaking in Mysuru, mentioned submitting three memorandums in October and meeting with the Prime Minister and Amit Shah in December to request relief after a central team inspected and provided a report. Later, the CM criticised the BJP-led central government for not providing drought relief to the state, despite five months passing since the petition was filed.

Stating that it was four months since December, he said, "Then how can he say we delayed giving a memorandum? We have given the memorandum five months ago, it's about six months now, still he has not given any relief, what moral right he has? If the Home Minister of the country speaks blatant lies like this."