Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Saturday that the Congress will stage a demonstration on April 28 in protest against what he termed as “paltry” drought relief provided by the Centre to the state. Shivakumar, also serving as the Congress state president, said that the Centre allocated Rs 3,454 crore against Karnataka’s demand for Rs 18,172 crore to address the drought conditions.
Addressing the media, Shivakumar criticised the move, saying, “The union government has announced a very paltry sum of relief, which will be grossly insufficient to provide drought relief to farmers.”
He added, “In this regard, we have decided to stage a protest near the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha. We will also continue our legal battle for more drought relief. We are not seeking alms, this is our right”.
He further said that the state had sought only 50 per cent of the estimated loss of Rs 35,000 crore, yet the Centre agreed to release only a fraction of that amount.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address our rallies in the North Karnataka region today, aiming to solidify support for the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the third phase of polling of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Prime Minister is schedule includes rallies in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Ballari.
READ | PM Modi To Address 4 Rallies In North Karnataka Today
The BJP has a strong historical performance in Karnataka’s Lok Sabha elections, securing 25 out of 28 seats in 2019, while the Congress won one seat. As the BJP seeks to maintain its stronghold, the Congress is making efforts to retain its presence in the state.
The third phase of elections, scheduled for May 7, will witness polling in 94 constituencies across 12 states and union territories, with results expected on June 4. Stay updated with live coverage from the political area of the country – Click here for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Updates.