Congress to make its presence felt at Modi’s event

The State Congress has decided to mobilise party workers to a function where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a mega food park in Tumkur on September 24. This would be the first public function of Mr. Modi in Karnataka after assuming office. Though a Congress MLA opposed the presence of party workers at the function, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed to party MLAs and workers to be present in large numbers at the event, sources in the party said. The Chief Minister has reportedly told party leaders that the political scenario had changed after the BJP’s defeat in the byelections to Assembly constituencies in several States. Mr. Modi would arrive in Bangalore on September 23. The government has decided to submit a memorandum, detailing loss to crops and property owing to floods and drought, Mr. Modi to seek Central aid. A proposal has been submitted to Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking Rs. 426-crore Central aid for providing compensation for farmers in the State who had suffered losses owing to floods and drought. The Hindu