Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday, 22 July declared that the state is grappling with a severe drought, and that the government has formally written to the Centre seeking a national disaster declaration. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said he had personally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Union government to treat the crisis with the gravity it deserves.

Scale of the Drought Crisis

'The drought situation in Karnataka is grave,' Parameshwara said, underlining the urgency. He noted that the shadow of drought is visible on a large scale across the state, with multiple divisions severely affected. He said he would personally tour drought-hit areas in Chikkaballapura district and Bengaluru Rural to assess ground conditions.

Parameshwara also pointed out that the crisis is not confined to Karnataka alone. Neighbouring states — Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra — are also facing drought-like conditions, strengthening the case for a national-level response. 'Given that drought is affecting several states, I have requested that it be treated as a national disaster,' he said.

What the State Has Asked From the Centre

Karnataka has sought additional financial assistance from the Union government and has requested a relaxation of norms governing the formal declaration of drought. The state's appeal comes amid concerns that existing criteria for drought classification may not adequately capture the extent of the current crisis.

Review meetings for the Belagavi and Kalaburagi divisions have already been completed. A joint review of the Bengaluru division is scheduled for 26 July in Chitradurga, to be chaired by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Parameshwara. A review for the Mysuru division is also planned subsequently.

Cabinet Expansion in the Balance

On the much-anticipated Karnataka Cabinet expansion, Parameshwara said the exercise will proceed only after the Congress high command gives its approval. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad are currently in Delhi for discussions with the party leadership. 'By noon, we may have a clearer picture on how the developments are taking shape,' Parameshwara said.

He also pitched for greater representation for Tumakuru district in the Cabinet, citing its size and the fact that it now has 11 Assembly constituencies. Additionally, he reiterated a 25-year-old demand for a second international airport in Karnataka, proposing Tumakuru as the ideal location given its role as a gateway to North Karnataka and the coastal belt.

Parameshwara on Exam Row and Gandhi Arrests

The Deputy Chief Minister also weighed in on the political controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in national-level examinations and the detention of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a protest in New Delhi. 'Lakhs of students have faced injustice and have been cheated. Rahul Gandhi was arrested to silence him,' he alleged.

On demands for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Parameshwara said accountability from ministers is a democratic norm. 'In the past, several Union ministers have resigned over rail accidents and other incidents. It is natural to demand accountability under such circumstances,' he said. He also described Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call for Prime Minister Modi's resignation as a natural Opposition response to the crisis.

With the drought deepening and Cabinet decisions pending, all eyes are now on the Centre's response to Karnataka's national disaster plea and on Delhi's Congress parleys over the weekend.