'Money Belongs To Kannadigas': BJP On Karnataka's Rs 10-Crore Aid To Wayanad Landslide Victims

Last Updated:August 21, 2025, 19:24 IST

The Karnataka government is providing the Rs 10 crore grant to the Wayanad landslide victims through the State Disaster Management Fund

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah with his deputy DK Shivakumar during the monsoon session of the state assembly in Bengaluru. (Image: DIPR/PTI)

The BJP and Congress have locked horns over the Karnataka government’s Rs 10-crore grant for the rehabilitation of 100 families affected by the Wayanad landslide in 2024.

Wayanad, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the MP, witnessed a series of devastating landslides caused by heavy rains in some villages at Meppadi. More than 300 were killed in one of the state’s deadliest disasters.

The BJP, however, accused the Congress government in Karnataka for squandering the state’s disaster fund saying the money belongs to Kannadigas and not the Gandhi family’s fortunes.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra directly addressed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on social media and alleged that he has “diverted" Kannadiga taxpayers’ money to Wayanad simply because it is Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency.

He said this act is not borne from compassion, but servitude for the Gandhis. He accused Siddaramaiah of making the excuse of fund crunch when it came to providing relief for farmers reeling from crop loss or grant money for basic infrastructure.

“CM Siddaramaiah avare, was it not you who campaigned in Delhi shouting “My Tax, My Right", insisting Karnataka’s money must not leave the State? Yet today, you divert ₹10 Cr of Kannadigas’ tax money to Wayanad in Kerala, just because it’s Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency," Vijayendra said.

He added: “When our farmers reel under crop loss, when MLAs don’t even get basic grants to lay foundation stones, when schools & colleges lack infrastructure – you claim there is no money. But to please your high command, you generously gift crores outside Karnataka…"

Other BJP leaders also attacked the Congress, saying the ruling party was driving Karnataka towards bankruptcy. “We were talking about the development in the Assembly yesterday. The ruling party MLAs and the opposition share the view that no development is taking place in the state. You can’t see any capital expenditure… For the past three years, there has been no development. In my constituency, there is a lot of work to be completed…" said BJP MLA Dr Bharath Shetty Y.

He added: “However, they are spending Rs. 10 crore in the Wayanad district, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the MP… Additionally, they hold a cabinet meeting in the Nandi Hills, incurring an expenditure of Rs. 4 crore… They are driving Karnataka towards bankruptcy."

The state government is providing the grant to the landslide victims through the State Disaster Management Fund (SDRF) and has made the allocation in its supplementary estimates for the 2024-2025 fiscal.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka assembly R Ashoka made a sarcastic remark against the Chief Minister for being concerned about Wayanad.

“Congratulations to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri @siddaramaiah, for allocating a special grant of 10 crore rupees to the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency represented by Priyanka Gandhi," Ashoka said in a post on ‘X’.

He said if Karnataka also had a “compassionate and large-hearted Chief Minister like Kerala’s Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah", all constituencies would have received abundant funding.

CONGRESS HITS BACK

The ruling Congress defended its move to provide humanitarian aid and said there is nothing wrong in doing charity. Reacting to the state government’s decision, health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said there was nothing wrong in doing charity which is being done on humanitarian grounds.

“Karnataka gives thousands and thousands of crores of rupees to the Centre but what do we get in return? That’s the bigger question. Not these small-small things. These were all done out of humanitarian considerations," Rao said.

He said the people of Karnataka should always feel pride in themselves for being good to neighbours. He alleged that these were all diversionary issues of the BJP, which was trying to create a divide between Karnataka and Kerala.

“We are all there for each other. When we do something out of humanitarian considerations, then that should not be looked at in a suspicious or negative manner," he said.

Rao further said the Karnataka government has done so many things in many other states, such as Gujarat and Odisha.

“So many times, so many crises happen, and we contribute and support. This is a very narrow way of looking at things. I don’t think even people will appreciate it," he added.

(With PTI inputs)

News politics 'Money Belongs To Kannadigas': BJP On Karnataka's Rs 10-Crore Aid To Wayanad Landslide Victims

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