Yogesh K Porwar
*Drought Losses Estimated at Around ₹62,000 Crore; Relief to Be Sought from Centre as per NDRF Guidelines.
*BJP Leaders Urged Again to Join All-Party Delegation; Politics Should Not Take Precedence Over State’s Interests: DyCM.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr.G.Parameshwara said securing relief from the Union Government for people affected by the severe drought is a priority,and an all-party delegation has therefore been proposed to visit Delhi.
He appealed to Opposition parties to set aside minor political differences and cooperate on an issue concerning the interests of the State.
Speaking to the media near his Sadashivanagar residence today, Dr.Parameshwara said appointments must first be secured with the Prime Minister,Union Home Minister and Union Agriculture Minister before a date can be finalised for taking the all-party delegation to Delhi.
“A date cannot simply be fixed and a delegation taken to Delhi without securing appointments with the concerned Union leaders.Having previously been in Government,are BJP leaders unaware of these administrative procedures?”he asked.
Recalling an earlier experience,he said that when he was the Sericulture Minister,he had taken a delegation to Delhi regarding issues concerning the sericulture sector.
Although an appointment with the Prime Minister had been sought in advance,it had not initially been granted.
After the delegation reached Delhi,its members questioned why they had been brought there without a confirmed appointment.
At the time, P.V.Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. The delegation explained that Opposition parties were raising the issue and requested an opportunity to meet him.The Prime Minister subsequently granted an appointment, following which the delegation met him.
Dr.Parameshwara said minor political differences must be kept aside when matters concerning the State’s interests are involved.
“Our priority must be to secure relief for the people of Karnataka who are suffering because of the drought. The primary purpose of the all-party delegation is to seek drought relief from the Union Government.It is not appropriate to politicise minor issues instead of focusing on this objective,”he said.
He stressed that the State’s interests must be placed above everything else and that,on a serious issue such as drought relief,responding to the hardships of the people should take precedence over politics.
Drought Losses Estimated at Around ₹62,000 Crore:
Dr.Parameshwara said the State has suffered losses of around ₹62,000 crore due to the drought,and officials are calculating the amount of relief that can be sought from the Union Government.
He clarified that the relief amount has to be determined in accordance with National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines.
“The fact that the State has suffered losses of ₹62,000 crore does not mean that the same amount can be sought as relief.
The eligible amount has to be calculated in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Union Government, and the memorandum will be submitted accordingly,”he said.
With the Dasara festivities now concluded,the necessary administrative process will be taken forward.
An all-party meeting will be convened for another round of discussions with leaders of all parties.Appointments will then be sought with Union leaders,following which the delegation will visit Delhi.
Dr.Parameshwara said BJP and other Opposition leaders would once again be requested to join the delegation. “If they join us,we will be happy.
If they choose not to, what can we do?As the Government administering the State,we have a responsibility to approach the Union Government and seek relief in the interest of our people,”he said.
Giving Caste Colour to Minor Incidents During Mysuru Dasara Is Inappropriate:
Responding to questions about a viral video showing police stopping some Ministers who were accompanying the Chief Minister during Mysuru Dasara,and the allegations made by the BJP over the incident,Dr. Parameshwara said it was inappropriate to give a caste dimension to incidents arising during the enforcement of security and protocol.
He said the Chief Minister has a prescribed protocol that the police are required to enforce strictly, particularly during events involving huge crowds where security arrangements have to be closely followed.
“There may have been instructions that no one other than the Chief Minister should be allowed beyond a particular point. I do not have the exact details.
But if the police acted on instructions from their senior officers, what is wrong in them carrying out their duty?” he asked.
Although the Ministers were initially stopped while the Chief Minister moved ahead, the Chief Minister later returned and took them along.
The police were performing their duty, and there was no need to create an unnecessary controversy over the matter,he said.
Objecting to the repeated use of the expression“Dalit Ministers”in relation to the incident,Dr.Parameshwara asked why they could not simply be referred to as Ministers.
“Should every individual be identified by their caste?Are Ministers belonging to other communities referred to by their caste?”he asked.
He said minor incidents can occur at large events attended by lakhs of people despite extensive precautions.
There could be instances where entry passes do not reach some people or communication gaps arise in providing passes to important guests.
“I am not saying there were no lapses.Such mistakes can happen.But it is not appropriate to turn such minor lapses into a major controversy,”he said.
According to the information available to him, more than 15 to 20 lakh people participated during the 10-day Mysuru Dasara festivities.
The Police Department and District Administration managed such a large gathering effectively, and visitors were able to return home safely after witnessing the festivities.“That is something we should appreciate,” he said.
He added that lakhs of people also participated in the Tumakuru Dasara Festival,exceeding expectations.
Organising such massive events and managing huge crowds is not an easy task,and the entire administration should not be criticised on the basis of a few minor incidents.
Chief Minister’s Delhi Visit Related to State Development Issues:
Asked whether the Chief Minister and Home Minister’s visit to Delhi would involve discussions on Cabinet expansion or reshuffle,Dr.Parameshwara said that,to the best of his knowledge,the Chief Minister had sought appointments with Union Ministers to discuss certain matters concerning the development of Karnataka.
During the visit to Delhi,it would also be natural for the Chief Minister to meet AICC leaders and party General Secretaries and discuss various matters.He said he had no further information on the issue.
Responding to a question on appointments to boards and corporations, Dr.Parameshwara said the Chief Minister had stated only yesterday that the appointment of chairpersons to boards and corporations would be made shortly, and the process would proceed accordingly.
