Bangalore:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday lashed out at the Siddaramaiah government over Bengaluru’s water crisis and claimed that the Congress called it a halt when it came to power in Karnataka last year Many projects and initiatives related to irrigation and water.

She also criticized the Congress government for the deteriorating law and order in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, the Union Minister said that it is very worrying and sad that the city is suffering from water-related problems.

“Just not having water is a problem. Since there were reports yesterday that cholera could be spreading in the town it’s also a very big problem… It’s a bit concerning but I think it’s also partly because people don’t have enough water. Water is available, contaminated water also reaches people and as a result they are left in dire straits,” she said.

Accusing the state government of stopping irrigation and water-related projects, Ms. Sitharaman said various measures taken until recently or stopped by the current government in Karnataka also indicate mismanagement in water-related areas.

She claimed that in May 2023, the chief minister stopped tendering projects worth Rs 20,000 crore, including Visveswaraya Jala Nigam Limited, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited and Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited. She also wondered why the central government’s ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ was not encouraged in the state.

“For a cosmopolitan and cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru, whatever the reasons are from the Karnataka government, we are hurting ourselves by taking knee-jerk steps,” she said.

Ms Sitharaman claimed: “Whenever pro-Pakistan slogans are raised in the Karnataka Assembly, there is an implicit support… It is a very big signal that we can do anything and get away with it. “

Citing the Rameshwaram cafe blast in Bengaluru, she said: “While the NIA continues to issue reports that searches are being intensified, incidents like the raising of pro-Pakistan slogans at rallies show that a false sense of protection is being Extends to those committing violence.”

Slamming state health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, she said: “This responsible minister belongs to the same party that coined the term ‘Hindu Terror’ and has now revealed that a witness Identity. Will he protect him?”

Ms Sitharaman slams Congress MP Shamanur Shivashankarappa for targeting BJP candidate for Dawanagar Lok Sabha seat Gayathri Siddeshwara remarks, and said: “Such remarks are absolutely unacceptable. Women and their dignity are not important to the Congress Party.”

Me Shivashankarappa recently sparked controversy after making allegedly sexist remarks about Ms Siddeshwara, saying she was only “fit for cooking”.

Replying to a question on the delay in release of drought relief funds, she explained that the Karnataka government had submitted a memorandum in October and an inter-ministerial central team had come here for an on-site assessment.

Defending the Centre, Ms Sitharaman said distribution of drought relief materials had to go through some procedures and would take time.

She said that on March 28, the central authority had written to the Election Commission to obtain prior approval for the model code of conduct for convening the high-level committee. She added that approval of drought relief funding from the European Commission was awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)