Karnataka   

The show of unity among parties is now missing

Bangalore: Politics in flood relief work has surfaced and the unity displayed during the aerial visits of the flood-affected areas by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram followed by that of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has vanished.

It is also a pointer to the fact that flood relief and rehabilitation works will be the centre of discussions within and outside the legislature in the days to come.

The State Government’s move to take an all-party delegation to New Delhi to call on the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to seek an adequate quantum of assistance to the State for the flood relief and rehabilitation works has received a setback with the Opposition parties turning down the invitation that was personally extended to their respective leaders by Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa.

A similar invitation had also been extended to the Union Ministers from the State. The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) say that such a meeting with the Prime Minister and other Union Ministers is not warranted at the present juncture.

Sources in the State Government told The Hindu that the highlight of the memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister was the Rs. 3,000-crore hike in assistance that has been sought.

While in the preliminary report to the Centre a sum of Rs. 16,500 was sought, the State has revised that figure upwards to Rs. 19,500 crore, based on a detailed survey on losses by the deputy commissioners in the districts.

The Chief Minister, who was surprised by the stand of the Opposition initially, decided to go ahead with the appointment with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

The Union Government has asked for a detailed report on the damage caused by rain and floods.

A high level nine-member Central team will be in the State for a spot assessment of all the flood-affected districts for three days from Tuesday. They will form three teams to tour the districts.

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