Ego amidst calamity: Defence Minister loses her cool in flood-ravaged Kodagu

Madikeri, Aug 25: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who paid a visit to Karnataka’s flood-hit Kodagu yesterday to review the army's relief operations, lost her cool at a press conference and blasted district in-charge minister Sa Ra Mahesh publicly.

The union minister got upset after the Karnataka minister asked her to wind up the press conference at the district commissioner PI Sreevidya’s office citing lack of time. The Defence Minister said she was not at fault for following a "minute-to-minute" itinerary given to her by the district administration.

“I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also important.... Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable," she rebuked Mr Mahesh at the dais.

When told this conversation was getting recorded on cameras, Ms Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, shot back "Let it get recorded." Asked her to speak in the mic by media persons, Ms Sitharaman, still visibly upset, said "Record whatever you want."

Confusion prevailed at DC office over who should brief the union minister. As Mahesh has begun a Power-Point presentation, Ms Sitharaman snubbed him and asked Sreevidya to take over. Angry exchanges continued as the minister proceeded to a review meeting. Ms Sitharaman’s staff was apparently unhappy that the media was allowed to attend the review meeting. Ms Sitharaman later held a meeting at the DC’s office separately.

At press conference, Ms Sitharaman said the Centre will announce flood relief to Kodagu after receiving a comprehensive report from the central and the state government teams. She said she will work as a messenger and declined to reply to questions on an interim package.

The three defence public sector undertakings will contribute Rs 7 crore towards the relief works under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. “From my MP Local Area Development Scheme, I will release Rs 1 crore,” she said.

“I will work as the messenger about the flood fury and the landslides in Kodagu district to the Union government. I will discuss flood-related issues with the prime minister, finance minister, road transport minister and others. Once the central and the state teams submit the report on the loss, the central government will release funds," she said.

Meanwhile, speaking to media persons, Mahesh said the Union minister had “disappointed” him. “We were waiting for an interim relief package. In Kerala, the Union government announced interim relief. But here she didn’t announce anything,” he said. “I will meet the Union government authorities and ministers with CM HD Kumaraswamy, seeking an early package for the flood- and landslide-hit Kodagu," he said.

Torrential rains have hit the Kodagu district hard over the last week, killing 17 people and leaving a huge trail of destruction.