Bengaluru: “It is the duty of the state government to get the second instalment released. The government has not only failed in its duty but has also accused the Centre of its inability,” said BJP state general secretary Shobha Karandlaje denying Karnataka government’s allegation that the Centre was apathetic towards the state over grant of funds.
She was referring to the accusation made by state rural development and panchayat raj minister Krishna Byre Gowda that the Centre had not released Rs 1,697 crore towards the rural employment guarantee scheme.
Gowda had further said the state government had to make payments for the works undertaken under the scheme.
Karandlaje said the state government had sought Rs 949 crore from the Centre in October last year against which Rs 434.62 crore had been released.
She slammed the state government by saying that the cabinet meeting that took place this week should have taken place a month ago but the leaders were busy with election duties. The government had enough time to carry out relief work a month ago. But instead all the ministers including the agriculture minister were busy with election related works and ignored the rural distress.