Bengaluru: After reports surfaced that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for additional relief flood funds went unanswered, the former has clarified that the latter has assured that he would consider all demands made by the state government.
It can be recalled that on January 2, during a rally in Tumakuru, the Chief Minister, in the PM’s presence, spoke about the devastation suffered by the state in the deluge of 2019 and requested him to release additional funds of Rs 50,000 so that the relief work can be carried out in the affected districts. Reportedly, PM Modi did not acknowledge BSY’s request and made no comments about the same during his address at the rally.
However, CM BSY, in a statement on January 3, clarified that the PM spoke with him personally and assured the Centre’s help. “The Prime Minister spoke to me personally and assured me of all help. He suggested that I visit New Delhi and meet the concerned ministers and apprise them of the state’s problems and pending projects. He also directed me to prepare a detailed report on the matter,” he said.
Accusing the media of misrepresenting his speech in Tumakuru, the CM said, “A section of the media has attached motive to my speech which was plain and honest in its content. There is nothing wrong with placing facts before the Prime Minister and making submissions in a federal set-up. As Chief Minister of the state, I merely placed the state’s problems and need for more funds for developmental activities.”
“I pleaded before the Prime Minister for more funds for the relief work, scientific and remunerative price for the farm produce, and a special fund of Rs 50,000 crore for the speeding up of on-going irrigation work. As it was a farmers’ meet, I felt it appropriate to request the Prime Minister for more funds for all the developmental activities in the state,” he added.
Stating that the PM’s concern for the farmers is unquestionable, he said that it is in “bad taste” for the media to attribute motives to his speech and connect it to PM Modi.
He then requested that the media support his government in the interest of the state. “I hope the media will respond to my request,” he added.
