Karnataka CM Faces The Heat For Using Tanker Water To Keep His Road Dust Free During Visit To Drought Hit Areas

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has become the latest politician who seems to have lost the sense of compassion when it comes to drought victims.

Indian Express

On Monday he toured the drought hit Bagalkot district in Northern Karnataka to assess the situation. But the visit caused more ire among the people there than getting them any sort of relief.

This after officials used two tanks full of water to sprinkle the road so that the CM could have a dust-free travel.

The insensitive act of the officials angered villagers who questioned the need to waste two tankers of water when people are struggling to get two pots of water every day.

¡°It shows how insensitive our officials and politicians are. It is an insult to us,¡± said a farmer.

The incident came days after former state chief minister BS Yeddyurappa came under fire for touring drought hit areas of Karnataka on a Rs 1 crore SUV 'gifted' by his former industries minister.

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Following the controversy, Yeddyurappa returned the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado to Murugesh Nirani who had gifted it to him.

They are not alone when it come to lack of sensitivity towards drought victims.

Last week when Maharashtra relief and rehabilitation minister Eknath Khadse who paid a brief visit to the drought hit Marathwada region, officials used 10,0000 litres of water to prepare a temporary helipad for the minister.

Another minister Pankaja Munde who visited drought hit regions of Maharashtra turned it into a selfie opportunity.

We also saw some local BJP leaders scrambling to take credit for the first water train that arrived in Latur by sticking their posters on the wagons.