Vijayendra Slams Congress Government Over ‘Discriminatory’ Drought Declaration

Ballari, September 7: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Monday stepped up his attack on the Congress government over its declaration of drought-hit taluks, alleging that the exercise was marked by discrimination and political considerations even as farmers continued to bear the brunt of the worsening drought.

Vijayendra questioned the government’s decision to declare only 101 taluks as drought-hit despite drought-like conditions reportedly prevailing in more than 190 taluks. He said the disparity had raised serious questions about the credibility and transparency of the government’s assessment and relief measures.

His remarks came after Congress MLA C S Appaji Nadagouda alleged that two taluks in his Muddebihal Assembly constituency had been deliberately excluded from the drought-hit list. Nadagouda also accused Vijayapura district in-charge Minister M B Patil of acting out of personal animosity.

“Whatever may be the political or personal differences, the government cannot discriminate against farmers when their livelihoods are at stake,” Vijayendra said.

He claimed that the allegations made by the Congress MLA had strengthened the BJP’s charge that the government had failed to adopt a transparent and uniform approach in identifying drought-hit areas.

Vijayendra also targeted Patil, accusing him of attempting to divert the issue instead of addressing concerns raised by his own party MLA.

“The statements of the Congress MLA and the minister have exposed the internal contradictions in the government. At a time when farmers are struggling, the government is busy fighting among itself,” he said.

The BJP state president demanded an immediate review of the drought assessment and urged the government to bring all genuinely affected taluks under the drought-relief framework without political considerations.

He also warned that continued neglect of drought-hit farmers could lead to widespread public anger.

“If the government does not wake up and address the problems of farmers and the common people, the day is not far when people will come out on the streets,” Vijayendra said.

Meanwhile, Patil defended the government’s assessment, stating that drought assessment teams had visited Nadagouda’s constituency twice and that the MLA was absent on both occasions. The minister accused Nadagouda of making baseless allegations in the name of farmers and questioned his motive for targeting him.

The exchange has exposed a fresh political fault line within the ruling Congress at a time when the government is facing pressure to expand drought relief and address mounting complaints from affected regions.