Bengaluru: Amid intense mudslinging over the delay in release of drought relief funds to the State from the Central Government, Union Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman has clarified that the delay was not intentional as the Centre was awaiting permission from Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct High Power Committee meeting.
Addressing a press conference at the media office of State BJP in Malleswaram here yesterday, Nirmala said “By the time Union Ministries of Agriculture and Home verified the reports submitted by inter-Ministerial team of Officers, who had conducted a study of drought situation in the State, the elections were declared. Hence it was not possible to conduct a High Power Committee meeting without the permission of ECI.”
