Congress MLA threatens to resign, calls on Karnataka govt to declare Gadang drought affected by Oct 10 | India News

Senior Congress MLA and former Karnataka minister HK Patil on Monday set October 10 as a deadline for the state government to declare Gadag district drought-affected, saying he would decide on resigning his Assembly membership if the demand was not met.Patil has written to chief minister DK Shivakumar alleging officials have kept Gadag out of the drought declaration despite a 49% rainfall deficit and widespread crop failure. He said the issue would be raised during the ongoing three day special legislature session and that he would continue pressing the government until October 2 before deciding whether to resign.Also Read: Karnataka to proceed with 50% quota, internal reservation subject to court verdict: Minister Patil “Through this three-day session, I will try to put whatever political pressure on the government. I will use this forum to convince everyone. And if, for any reason, I fail, I will continue my persuasion till October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. If nothing happens even till then, by October 10, I will decide to resign my legislator post,” he said.Also Read: Karnataka Cabinet clears key health, education and Cauvery projects: MinisterPatil said a meeting of local elected representatives, attended by district in-charge minister Rayareddy, had reached a consensus. “After a meeting with our district minister, Rayareddy, we all were convinced that there is a drought, and we resolved in our MLAs’ meeting that Gadag district as such is to be declared drought hit, not only Gadag taluk. And we very specifically said Gadag taluk is also to be declared as drought-hit. Unfortunately, that was not conceded by the officers,” he said.Patil also pointed to Shivakumar’s September 1 visit to assess drought-like conditions in Gadag. He alleged that officials had disregarded the CM’s directions and excluded Gadag while declaring areas with lower rainfall deficits drought affected. “Where there is a 20% deficit, these officers have declared them as drought affected. Gadag is at minus 49%, and they have chosen to keep it aside,” he said.Also Read: New court likely to deal with illegal mining cases in KarnatakaThe Janata Dal (Secular) seized on Patil’s allegations to question why taluks with rainfall deficits of 40% to 60% were allegedly not declared affected and accused officials of taking decisions affecting North Karnataka farmers from Bengaluru.