Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Karnataka Opposition Leader Challenges Government Over Drought, Debt
R Ashoka, a BJP opposition leader in Karnataka, criticized the state government.
He said the government was not doing enough to help people during a drought.
He claimed that more than 3,000 farmers had died by suicide since the Congress government took office.
The government announced Rs 2,500 for each of about 50 lakh affected farmers.
Ashoka said farmers should receive Rs 25,000 for each acre instead.
He also said people need drinking water, electricity and protection from forced migration.
The government wants to send an all-party group to the central government to seek help, but Ashoka said the opposition was not consulted.
He accused the state of having serious debt and unpaid bills.
He also criticized cloud seeding, higher milk prices and the NICE project.
R Ashoka accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of mishandling drought relief, farmer distress, drinking water and state finances.
Ashoka claimed more than 3,000 farmers had died by suicide and demanded Rs 25,000 per acre in drought compensation.
Karnataka announced Rs 2,500 each for about 50 lakh drought-hit farmers, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,250 crore.
Ashoka questioned the proposed all-party delegation to the Centre, alleging the opposition was not consulted on its memorandum.
He also raised concerns about debt, pending contractor bills, alleged official pressure, the NICE project, milk prices and cloud seeding.
- Who
- R Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, and the Congress-led state government associated with Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar.
- What
- Ashoka accused the government of mishandling drought relief, farmer distress, finances and several other state issues.
- When
- Wednesday, according to the report.
- Where
- Bengaluru and Karnataka.
- Why
- Ashoka said the government had failed to adequately respond to drought-related hardship, water needs, farmer debt and financial concerns.
BJP Opposition Claims
Karnataka Government Position
Drought compensation
BJP Opposition Claims
R Ashoka said the announced relief was inadequate, demanded Rs 25,000 per acre and called for action on water, electricity, migration and farmer debt.
Karnataka Government Position
The state announced Rs 2,500 for each of about 50 lakh drought-hit farmers, with an estimated total cost of Rs 1,250 crore.
Delegation to the Centre
BJP Opposition Claims
Ashoka said the opposition was not consulted while the memorandum seeking central assistance was prepared and said the BJP would decide whether to participate after discussions with NDA partners.
Karnataka Government Position
D K Shivakumar proposed an all-party delegation to the Centre to seek assistance; the report does not give a detailed government response to the consultation criticism.
Cloud seeding
BJP Opposition Claims
Ashoka criticized the exercise and claimed Rs 28 crore had been spent on it.
Karnataka Government Position
The government defended cloud seeding as a scientific method while acknowledging questions about its timing.
Allegations of misconduct and financial distress
BJP Opposition Claims
Ashoka cited the claimed debt, pending contractor bills, a reported engineer’s death note and alleged pressure on officials as evidence of government mismanagement; his description of farmer deaths as government-sponsored killings was not supported by independent evidence in the report.
Karnataka Government Position
The report presents these as Ashoka’s allegations and does not provide independent verification or a detailed government response.
- Announced farmer aid
- Rs 2,500 per drought-hit farmer.
- Farmers covered
- Around 50 lakh drought-hit farmers.
- Estimated assistance cost
- Rs 1,250 crore.
- Opposition compensation demand
- Rs 25,000 per acre.
- Ashoka’s claimed farmer-suicide figure
- More than 3,000 since the Congress government came to power.
- Claimed outstanding debt
- Rs 8,34,677 crore.
- Pending contractor bills cited
- Rs 38,000 crore.
- Cloud-seeding expenditure claimed
- Rs 28 crore.
