Centre neglecting Karnataka : BS Yeddyurappa,

07-03-09 : After Home Minister P Chidambaram went public with his annoyance for not getting time to meet Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, the latter has called the entire thing a political gimmick before elections.

He said he was ready to meet with Chidambaram any time but the minister had neglected his state's needs.

"The Centre has been neglecting the state. Karnataka had asked for NSG deployment but hasn't been granted that. I am ready to meet Union Home Minister any time but this is being turned into an issue because the elections are around the corner," Yeddyurappa said.

The state Home Minister also hit out at his counterpart in the Centre giving a detailed account of how the Union Ministry, and not Karnataka officials, kept changing dates of the meeting.

The issue came to fore on Friday when the Home Ministry issued a statement saying the minister is furious with Karnataka CM for refusing to meet him after several rescheduling and cancellations.

According to the statement, Chidambaram was upset after Karnataka CM cancelled meetings thrice, some even at the last minute. So, Chidambaram cancelled his Karnataka trip and the Home Ministry issued a statement for "people of Karnataka".

Also read