Ajay Singh
| Photo Credit: File Photo
Minister for Minor Irrigation Ajay Singh said that taluks in Kalaburagi district would be included in the State government’s second list of drought-hit areas. Speaking to presspersons in Kalaburagi city on Saturday, Dr. Singh said the first list was not final and assured that the government would make efforts to ensure that the district’s drought-affected taluks were included in the list.“This is only the first list, and it is not final. We are hopeful that Kalaburagi will be included in the second list,” he said.The Minister said farmers in Kalaburagi were facing difficulties due to inadequate rainfall and crop losses. He added that he, along with district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, would meet Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara to seek the inclusion of the district’s taluks in the drought-hit list.Dr. Singh said the drought was declared based on certain prescribed criteria and ensured that the government would take the necessary steps to protect the interests of farmers.‘Nagendra resigned voluntarily’Replying to a question regarding former Minister B. Nagendra’s resignation, Dr. Singh said Mr. Nagendra stepped down voluntarily to ensure that the issue did not cause embarrassment to the Congress and denied that he had resigned under pressure.“Mr. Nagendra, as a loyal Congress leader and an asset to the party, resigned voluntarily so that the party would not be embarrassed. There was no pressure on him to resign,” Dr. Singh added.He accused the BJP of targeting Mr. Nagendra as it had no substantive issues against the Congress government. “The Congress government has completed three years and has been providing good governance and taking up development works. The BJP is unable to digest this and, having no issues to raise, has chosen to target Mr. Nagendra,” he said.Dr. Singh also accused the BJP of resorting to protests with elections approaching. “The BJP remained silent for three years and has now started resorting to protest politics,” he quipped.Taking a dig at the BJP State leadership, Dr. Singh said the party was facing internal differences, with its leaders pulling in different directions and failing to present a united front. Published - August 29, 2026 09:13 pm IST
