PM - CM meet should not be seen through political lens: BJP
BJP national former general secretary and Legislative Council member C.T. Ravi on Monday criticised the Karnataka government for “failing to follow established practice” in handling flood relief, stating that the State should have released compensation from its own treasury before seeking assistance from the Centre.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Ravi said the posts of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister are constitutional and their meeting “must not be viewed politically”. Responding to questions on the recent PM–CM interaction, he noted that such engagements should not be interpreted through partisan narratives.
Ravi cited precedent to argue that the State should have acted first on flood compensation. “When B.S. Yediyurappa was Chief Minister, he would release funds from the State and then request support from the Centre. Many Chief Ministers have followed this practice. The Centre provides assistance under the NDRF norms based on surveys. Before that, the State is expected to act on its own,” he said.
On the ongoing dispute over sugarcane issues, Ravi raised questions over alleged incidents of tractors carrying cane being set on fire. “Who set them on fire? Whose interests are behind this?” he asked. He criticised the government for not holding meaningful dialogue with farmers’ representatives and remarked that even sugar mill owners had not agreed with the government’s unilateral decisions. “The government’s thick-skinned approach has pushed farmers to the streets,” he said.
Commenting on speculation around a change of Chief Minister, Ravi described the recurring discussion as a political tactic to divert public attention whenever a major issue surfaces.
“Who becomes Chief Minister is not our concern. BJP does not believe in destabilising governments,” he said, adding that the Congress had a long history of dismissing non-Congress governments and imposing President’s Rule. “This is a bad government. They have a majority and we have no interest in toppling them. If they fall on their own, that is their fate,” Ravi remarked.
