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Senior Congress leaders, including Oscar Fernandes, B K Hariprasad, Madhusudan Mistry and K H Muniyappa, on Sunday promised to exert pressure on the Centre to release more funds for taking up drought relief works in the State.

Addressing a public rally organised as part of the launch of ‘Congressge banni badalavane thanni’ programme, Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa said they would appraise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi about the severity of the drought in the State and urge them to release more funds. The State unit of the party should prepare a report on drought and submit it to the Centre, much before the State government does it, he said.

Fernandes said the party leaders would request the Centre to release more assistance to provide relief to the affected people.

KPCC president G Parameshwara said the State unit would submit a report on drought to Sonia Gandhi during her scheduled visit to the State on April 28 and seek assistance. She would also hold a meeting with the party leaders, he said.
The rally will be held across all 224 Assembly constituencies from next month, he said.

CBI probe sought

While demanding a CBI probe into the alleged misuse of funds under JnNURM in BBMP, senior party leader Hariprasad took a dig at the leaders of his own party for not highlighting the issue effectively.

The Centre has released about Rs 7,000 crore to BBMP under JnNURM, but the money has been misused. The Congress leaders in Bangalore are reluctant to pursue the matter and demand a CBI probe, he said.

Riding pillion

Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara stole the show when they arrived at the venue at Gollarahatti, off Magadi Road, on the outskirts of the City by riding pillion on motorcycles. The party had organised a bike rally from Magadi Road-Ring Road junction up to the venue of the ‘Congressge banni badalavane thanni’ programme.