E-Paper
A ‘stormy affair’: Yogi’s men, Siddaramaiah spar on twitter
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah welcomed his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who was on election campaign in the Congress ruled state, with a rather provocative tweet suggesting Adityanath was campaigning outside UP at a time when he was more required in his state hit by deaths caused by freak dust storm.
Like he did in January, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah welcomed his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who was on election campaign in the Congress ruled state, with a rather provocative tweet suggesting Adityanath was campaigning outside UP at a time when he was more required in his state hit by deaths caused by freak dust storm.
“At least 64 people have lost their lives due to a storm in Uttar Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I am sorry your CM is needed here in Karnataka. I am sure he will return soon and attend to his work there,” Siddaramaiah tweeted.
The tweet that went viral met with an immediate response from Adityanath’s advisor Mrityunjay Kumar.
“Yogiji doesn’t sleep (over problems) as you do. He had issued necessary instructions for relief and rehabilitation even before he reached Karnataka. He is a Yogi and his life is dedicated to the people,” Kumar said in his post tagged to Siddaramaiah.
Kumar also described Siddaramaiah in one of his twitter posts as ‘seedha rupaiah’ apparently taking cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had in February attacked Siddaramaiah government as ‘seedha rupaiah sarkar’.
Soon the official handle of the chief minister’s office @CMOfficeUP too was active tweeting how UP government provided immediate help to the needy. “Within 24 hours the families of the 70 dead were provided financial relief of ₹4 lakh each and 123 families who lost their livestock due to storm too were provided relief,” the post read.
In January when Adityanath had visited Karanataka, Siddaramaiah had welcomed Yogi on twitter. “I welcome UP CM Shri @myogiadityanath to our state. There is a lot you can learn from us sir. When you are here, please visit an Indira canteen and a ration shop. It will help you address the starvation deaths sometimes reported from your state,” tweeted Siddaramaiah signing off his tweet with #YogiInBengaluru.
Within hours, Adityanath responded. “Thank you for the welcome @siddaramaiah ji. I heard number of farmers committing suicide in Karnataka was highest in your regime, not to mention the numerous deaths and transfer of honest officers. As UP CM I am working to undo the misery and lawlessness unleashed by your allies,” he tweeted.
Interestingly even Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined the twitter war, siding with the Congress in reminding Yogi that he was more required in UP than in Karnataka. “He should have returned immediately back to UP where people elected him to get their problems resolved and not for (participating) in Karnataka politics. If he doesn’t return back he should set up his Mutt there permanently,” Akhilesh tweeted tagging his post to @CMOfficeUP.
To blunt the opposition attack Adityanath is now scheduled to visit Agra, where 46 people had died in the freak dust storm. “After campaigning in Karnataka he would fly down later to the Taj city on Friday evening to take stock of the situation. He would reach Agra tonight and visit some most affected areas. He would then review the relief and restoration efforts on Saturday morning before leaving for Kanpur and other districts,” said Awanish Awasthi, UP’s principal secretary, Information.
