If Centre fails to give grants, will interfere

BANGALORE:  Governor H R Bhardwaj stated that he would intervene if any injustice is meted out to Karnataka on providing drought relief grants. “The state government is seeking funds but if the Centre fails to provide grants as per the rules for drought management, then I will interfere,” Bhardwaj said on the sidelines of a function here on Friday.The Governor continued that all aspects of the grants were discussed at an all-party meeting, where even the Opposition leaders voiced their views.“I have heard that an all-party delegation will head to Delhi... the Centre is expected to provide grants,” he explained.He, however, parried questions on the BJP’s poor handling of the drought, and said: “I am no Congress spokesperson... party heads should answer these questions.”Also present were former Governor V S Ramadevi, Commissioner of Department of Kannada and Culture Manu Baligar, Deputy Director General of DD Kendra Mahesh Joshi and Leeladevi R Prasad.Guv Decries Poor Woman EmpowermentThe Governor decried the phenomenon of women being confined to their households during the inaugural of Akkamahadevi Jayanti Amrutotsava and Guru Vandane programme here on Friday. “Women today should follow the philosopher Basavanna, and take more responsibility. Even in the olden days, women were qualified and would handle various roles. Somehow, women empowerment has not happened largely... they must achieve success outside the households,” he said.