Bengaluru, Feb 20 (Reporter) Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra Yediyurappa on Tuesday called the state government's decision to give Rs 15 lakh as compensation to the family of a deceased person from Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency in Kerala an appalling betrayal of people reeling under drought and farmers committing suicides across Karnataka. He also termed it as an outrageous misuse of Karnataka taxpayers' funds to curry favour with Rahul Gandhi. "The Congress government's outrageous misuse of Karnataka taxpayers' funds to curry favour with Rahul Gandhi is utterly disgraceful. Illegally allocating state fund of Rs 15 lakh to a deceased individual from Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad constituency, falsely blaming an elephant from Karnataka is an appalling betrayal," Vijyayendra told reporters here. "Amidst crippling drought and hundreds of farmers committing suicides across Karnataka, the Congress government shamelessly prioritizes pleasing Rahul Gandhi over addressing the state's urgent needs," he said. Yesterday, Karnataka Forests Minister B Eshwar Khandre announced compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the family of deceased Ajeesh, who died after a pachyderm trampled him to death in Kerala's Wayanad. The elephant has been identified as Makna who was relocated to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in November 2023 after it was captured from Belur in Karnataka's Hassan district. The radio-collared pachyderm was sighted two months later in the Wayanad area of Kerala, Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency. Vijayendra said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cohorts must be held accountable for unethically looting Karnataka taxpayers' money and state treasury to cater to Congress High Command's greed. Amidst the Congress party's struggle for survival, its ministers are sparing no effort in plundering every last rupee of the state's coffers, he added. Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy alleged that on Rahul Gandhi's direction, the Karnataka government liberally gave compensation. "How is this government behaving, everybody can understand. By liberally giving Rs 15 Lakhs, they have given the message that our government treasury is very strong...People have to think about this Government's attitude. When several deaths occurred due to animal attacks here, Rs 5 lakhs were given here. There, they gave Rs 15 lakhs ...," he added...////...