PM has let people of Karnataka down: Siddaramaiah

By ignoring their plea to release funds for the flood relief works, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has betrayed the people of Karnataka, former Chief minister Siddaramaiah said here on Friday.

Speaking to media persons here, the former Chief minister said, ''The PM's two-day Karnataka tour has left the people of the state disappointed''.

Pointing out that the state had witnessed one of its worst flood-related damage to both life and properties of the people in over 103 talukas, which resulted in the displacement of lakhs of people from their homes, he said,  ''The Prime minister never uttered a word to console the affected''.

''Is this the gratitude of the Prime minister to the people of the state, who had rewarded him by electing 25 Lok Sabha members for the saffron party in the last Lok Sabha elections,'' Mr Siddaramaiah said.

During the election campaign, the BJP leaders had claimed that if their party comes to power both at the Centre and the state, the door of development will open for the people of the state, however, ''The Prime minister's door to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and the people of the state has been shut forever,'' he said.

Modi's indifference to the Chief Minister's request for funds is nothing but his betrayal towards the people of the state, Congress leader asserted.

Stating that the total cost of flood damage to the state, accounts for over Rs one lakh crore, the former chief minister said,  ''The Centre after gasping for over three months had released a meagre amount Rs 1,200 crore''.

He also accused the Prime Minister of making false promises. ''The Prime Minister's promise of generating jobs across various verticals has fallen flat,'' he said.