As repeated appeals seeking funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) from the Centre have not yielded results, the Congress government in Karnataka has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Union government for denying financial assistance for drought management in the State.
The move is expected to trigger a fresh political debate in the run-up to the two-phase Lok Sabha elections in the State. Earlier too, Karnataka raised the issue of “discrimination” by the Centre in devolution of funds, clearances to projects and financial assistance for schemes.
“We cannot be mute spectators when the farmers are in distress. The Centre’s hostility towards the State’s people and farmers is deliberate and therefore we approached the apex court seeking justice,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters here on Saturday.
