BJP slams CM for 'dengue politics'

The government had to face embarrassment when its leaders tried to dodge specific question on distribution of compensation by chief minister Siddaramaiah in his home district and ignoring victims in other districts. Raising the issue in council, DV Sadananda Gowda accused the CM of showing favouritism towards dengue victims and resorting to “dengue politics.”

He said the CM had given `1 lakh compensation to four victims in Salundi village in Mysore district the day after taking oath. “There are victims from other districts also. The CM has set a bad precedent. The government should announce same amount of compensation for all victims of dengue,” Gowda said.

HC Mahadevappa, minister for PWD, intervened and said it was impossible. Minister for information technology SR Patil said Gowda should not be talking on the basis of a newspaper report. “It’s not confirmed that the government has given the money,” he said.

Gowda produced the documents related to the distribution of money from the CM’s relief fund and slammed the Congress for misleading the house. He led the members to the well of the house and staged a protest.

JD(S) leader MC Nanaiah stated that it was a bad precedent by the Congress as well as the BJP. “If the government gives compensation to dengue victims, then it has to be extended to all the victims, including those who die due to AIDS. And this is not an issue to stage a protest,” he argued.

The protest was called off when Patil promised that he would get the answer from the CM on Wednesday.