Time to forgive each other and join hands: Karnataka CM plays peacemaker after Sitharaman-Mahesh spat

After Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Karnataka Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh had a tiff on August 25 over her itinerary during her visit to the flood-hit Kerala last week, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday issued a statement to resolve matters between the two leaders. 

In the statement, the CM expressed regret and said that it is "time to forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu".

Saying that he was "deeply pained at the turn of events" with regard to the visit of Sitharaman to the flood-affected areas in Kodagu district, the Chief Minister said, "Though the government and the district administration have ensured and followed protocol despite the tough situation in the region during her visit, it was unfortunate that the Defence Minister had to go through certain inconveniences, which we regret. I also spoke to her over the phone on the matter."

In a letter, tweeted from Chief Minister of Karnataka Twitter handle, Kumaraswamy said, "Tourism and Kodagu district in-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh is with the rescue and relief team, at the affected areas, coordinating their operations from the day one. He has tirelessly worked to oversee the rescue and relief operations on the ground."

The entire incident happened during the presence of officials and the media at the district commissioner's office in Kerala on August 24. 

Sitharaman was interacting with a group of affected people here when Mashesh, the district in-charge minister, told her that officials were waiting for her for a review meeting and they have to go for rehabilitation work.

However, Sitharaman noted that she was only going by the minute-by-minute programme drawn up for her visit and she had been following the minister in-charge and the itinerary.

"I follow the minister in charge. Central minister follows the minister in charge here. Unbelievable! You have a list of minute-to-minute for me to follow...I am doing as per your schedule," she said.

Later, Mahesh dubbed Sitharaman's comments as a reaction to the demand for funds from the centre to Kodagu.