Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cut short his Karnataka campaign to visit storm-ravaged Agra in Uttar Pradesh, ANI reported on 4 May.
The move comes after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed Adityanath for electioneering in Karnataka while people in his state reel under severe dust storm and lighting.
Yogi Adityanath was scheduled to stay in Karnataka till 6 May.
Speaking to ANI, Adityanath said, “Siddaramaiah jhooth bolne mein bahut siddhast hain (Siddaramaiah is the perfect liar). I am personally monitoring relief work in the areas affected due to heavy rain and dust storms in UP. I will visit those areas tomorrow.”
Avanish Awasthi, Principal Secretary (Information), told PTI, “The chief minister will arrive in Agra tonight (4 May) and visit the calamity-hit areas tomorrow morning.”
“He will later leave for Kanpur to monitor the relief work there and in nearby districts,” he added.
“I Am Sorry Your CM is in Karnataka,” Tweets Siddaramaiah
In a Twitter post, Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the several lives that were lost in the storm and criticised his Uttar Pradesh counterpart for being ignorant.
Siddaramaiah vs Adityanath
Siddaramaiah had attacked Adityanath on Twitter after the latter had accused him of playing a “corrupt innings” that would divide society.
Adityanath had urged the voters of the poll-bound state to reject what he termed the “divisive” politics and “jihadi mindset” of the Congress.
I have come here to call upon you to outrightly reject the divisive politics of the Congress, the jihadi mindset of the Congress, its policies of supporting terrorism and corruption.Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh
The UP CM, who has aggressively campaigned for the BJP in Karnataka, alleged that "jihadis" killing 23 BJP workers in the state in the last five years was "proof" of what he alleged was the Congress's divisive politics.
"Today, the Congress government in Karnataka and its chief minister, who is playing the most corrupt innings, are making the worst effort to divide the society. Their divisive politics supports terrorism," he said.
Seeking to draw a comparison between his home state and Karnataka, Adityanath claimed that no jihadi element could flourish in UP.
This (Karnataka) government does not seem to be standing in favour of farmers, traders, citizens and BJP workers and does not seem to be doing justice to them. The government is encouraging anarchy.Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh
The UP CM also accused the Siddaramaiah government of ignoring farmers in the state.
The PM had levelled similar allegations against Siddaramaiah during his Kisan Morcha Karyakartas rally in Karnataka on 2 May. In response, Siddaramaiah had then blamed the centre for being indifferent towards the state’s demands and ignoring the plight of the farmers.
(With inputs from PTI)
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