The Karnataka government's decision to grant ₹10 crore for the rehabilitation of landslide victims in Wayanad, Kerala, has triggered a political storm in the state, with the BJP fiercely criticizing the move and the Congress defending it as a humanitarian gesture. The grant, allocated as part of a supplementary budget, is intended to aid 100 families affected by the devastating landslides in Wayanad.
The BJP has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, accusing them of misusing taxpayer money and prioritizing political appeasement over the needs of the people of Karnataka. BJP state president BY Vijayendra questioned the government's priorities, highlighting the plight of farmers in Karnataka who are struggling due to heavy rains and crop loss. He alleged that the Chief Minister and his ministers have not taken adequate steps to assess crop damages, while funds are being readily diverted to Kerala. Vijayendra also pointed to other instances of alleged misuse of funds, such as allocations for Samavesha and legal expenses in the MUDA case.
In a post on X, Vijayendra accused Siddaramaiah of double standards, reminding him of his "My Tax, My Right" campaign in Delhi, where he insisted that Karnataka's money should not leave the state. He questioned why the Chief Minister was now diverting ₹10 crore of Kannadigas' tax money to Wayanad, "just because it's Priyanka Gandhi's constituency". Vijayendra labeled the grant as "servitude" and alleged that Siddaramaiah was squandering Karnataka's disaster relief fund to "please the high command". BJP MLA Ashwath Narayan echoed these sentiments, recalling past allocations to Kerala and condemning what he termed as the Congress government's repeated misuse of taxpayer money for their own agenda.
The JDS has also joined the chorus of criticism, alleging that the government has not paid salaries to employees for three months while continuing to "trouble transport staff by claiming empty coffers". The party further claimed that farmers in Karnataka are facing a fertilizer crisis while urea is being smuggled to Kerala, branding the Congress government as "a curse to Karnataka and a benefactor to Kerala".
Congress leaders have strongly defended the decision to provide aid to Wayanad, characterizing it as a humanitarian act and a demonstration of federal responsibility. Bengaluru Central MLA Rizwan Arshad countered the BJP's criticism by arguing that helping a neighboring state in distress is not wrong. He drew a parallel to Prime Minister Modi's provision of humanitarian aid to other countries, stating that if helping Wayanad is wrong, then the Prime Minister is also wrong. Industries Minister MB Patil accused the BJP of double standards. Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav emphasized the state's extensive housing initiatives under the Siddaramaiah government from 2013 to 2018, adding that "Helping neighboring states in distress is the spirit of a federal system".
The controversy has intensified with accusations that the grant is intended to appease the Gandhi family, as Wayanad is represented by Priyanka Gandhi. Critics have alleged that the Congress government is prioritizing the needs of Wayanad over those of Karnataka, neglecting issues such as farmer distress, unemployment, and infrastructure deficits.
