Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday expressed disappointment over BJP MPs and Union Ministers representing Karnataka politicizing the issue of drought relief fund instead of pressurizing the Central Government to release sufficient funds to take up drought relief measures in the state.

Speaking with media persons after inaugurating the railway over-bridge near Jalahalli, the chief minister said the BJP MPs and Union Ministers have no concern towards the state that is reeling under severe drought and they were busy in politicizing the issue instead of helping the state to get more funds from the Central Government. “Recently I led an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasized on the need to allocate more funds to the state which is reeling under severe drought. We have appealed to the prime minister to allocate Rs 4,702 crore as per National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) norms but the Central Government had allocated only Rs 1,700 crore. Farmers in the state have incurred a loss of Rs 17,000 crore due to the drought. If the need arises, I am ready to lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again,’’ the chief minister said.

He said the Central Government has been generous in allocating funds to other states but it continues to neglect Karnataka.

Speaking about the salient features of the railway over bridge constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore, the chief minister said the motorists from areas such as Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar, Kengeri, Hebbal and other areas would be benefited from this railway over bridge. “Traffic jams will be reduced considerably on this route,’’ he said.

Appointment of Lokayukta

The chief minister said a meeting has been convened to discuss the appointment of Lokayukta on January 9 and a final decision would be taken during the meeting. However, the chief minister has refused to comment on the names of the prospective candidates.

On DySP Ganapathy suicide case

The chief minister said the criminal investigation department (CID) gave a clean chit to Minister K J George in Dy Superintendent of Police M K Ganapthy’s suicide case but the deceased’s family members approached the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the state government. We will consult legal experts before giving a reply to the Supreme Court’s notice,’’ the chief minister said.

It may be recalled the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the state government following a Special Leave Petition filed by late Dy SP M K Ganapathy’s father M B Kushalappa, seeking a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation into the police officer’s suicide.