[1]BAGALKOT: It was not exactly a move of a man of the people. Hours before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah toured parts of North Karnataka that are under siege from drought, precious water was squandered on roads to ensure his drive would be dust-free.
Mr Siddaramaiah, who belongs to the Congress, has told local media that officials who ordered the watering of roads will be penalized.
Opposition leaders have appropriated the incident to accuse the government of insensitivity at a time when the state is dealing with a drought for the third consecutive year. “Ministers are touring Europe instead of dealing with their constituencies. For example, Ramalinga Reddy,” said S Prakash of the BJP, referring to Mr Siddaramaiah’s Transport Minister.
It was not exactly a move of a man of the people. Hours before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah toured parts of North Karnataka that are under siege from drought, precious water was squandered on roads to ensure his drive would be dust-free
Mr Siddaramaiah, who belongs to the Congress, has told local media that officials who ordered the watering of roads will be penalized.
Opposition leaders have appropriated the incident to accuse the government of insensitivity at a time when the state is dealing with a drought for the third consecutive year. “Ministers are touring Europe instead of dealing with their constituencies. For example, Ramalinga Reddy,” said S Prakash of the BJP, referring to Mr Siddaramaiah’s Transport Minister.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that officials who ordered the watering of roads will be penalized.
Last month, Mr Siddaramaiah was forced to defend a 70-lakh watch that he was seen with. The Chief Minister described it as a gift from a friend that he would declare in his list of assets to appropriate officials.
Since January 2015, more than 1,000 farmers have killed themselves in Karnataka, unable to cope with the relentless combination of drought and debt.
Last week, thousands of litres of water were wasted in preparing a helipad in Maharashtra for the touch-down of minister Eknath Khadse in Latur, which has been seared by drought.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that officials who ordered the watering of roads will be penalized. Last month, Mr Siddaramaiah was forced to defend a 70-lakh watch that he was seen with. The Chief Minister described it as a gift from a friend that he would declare in his list of assets to appropriate officials.
Since January 2015, more than 1,000 farmers have killed themselves in Karnataka, unable to cope with the relentless combination of drought and debt.
Last week, thousands of litres of water were wasted in preparing a helipad in Maharashtra for the touch-down of minister Eknath Khadse in Latur, which has been seared by drought.
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