Mangaluru: Leaders and members of the District Congress Committee (DCC) staged a protest accusing the BJP-led Central government and state government of neglecting flood victims at the deputy commissioner’s office on Thursday.

Former minister B Ramanath Rai said that the BJP-led Central government and state government of finding a permanent solution to the woes of flood victims. The previous coalition government had announced a package during the Kodagu flood in 2018.

Aerial survey by UPA govt

“The Congress has always responded to the people’s problem. During the UPA government, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had conducted an aerial survey and released funds immediately for the flood victims,” Rai reminisced.

He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for making elections and not people’s problems a priority in their agenda.

“A central team had visited the state to assess the damage caused by the floods. But the local representatives and MPs failed to bring the team to Dakshina Kannada district. Chief Minister Yediyurappa also did not visit Belthangady, which had faced unprecedented loss due to landslides and floods,” Rai charged.

Report on flood

He said that the KPCC team has visited the flood-affected areas and submitted a report to the government. Those who criticise the government are described as anti-national, Rai said.

Singling BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel for criticism, he said that the BJP now has a comedian in the form of state president.

Former Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Mayor Kavitha Sanil, former MLA J R Lobo, Congress District President Harish Kumar took part in the protest.