Karnataka CM, governor bicker over flood relief

Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on Thursday rapped the Bharatiya Janata Party government over inadequate rehabilitation work in the state's flood-hit northern districts, but Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa disagreed with his view and asserted that relief work was going on a 'war-footing'.

Bhardwaj said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conducted an aerial survey of the affected districts and announced an aid of Rs 1,000 crore, "but nothing has been done by the state government".

"You (the state government) have to work. People are watching you," Bhardwaj told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Bengaluru on Thursday.

However, Yeddyurappa disagreed with Bhardwaj and said the rehabilitation of people in flood-hit areas was in progress on a 'war-footing', with the support of private initiatives.

The government has taken up rehabilitation work in an 'unprecedented manner', he told reporters, adding it had released Rs 1,500 crore, of which Rs 1,200 crore has been spent.

Bhardwaj said in a country like India, there was no dearth of funds to take up rehabilitation, and offered to travel to Delhi to press the Centre for more money, if required.

Yeddyurappa responded by saying he was ready to accompany the governor to the national capital to seek more funds.

Bhardwaj had earlier angered the BJP government when he made some critical remarks about the state's law and order situation, prompting the government to take exception to it.