Bijapur: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on October 12 concluded his "Janaspandana Yatra" with a public meeting in Bijapur, where he launched a scathing attack on the Central government for the step- motherly treatment meted out to Karnataka in granting financial assistance and releasing foodgrains to tackle the acute drought conditions battering the state.

Krishna, who had pulled huge crowds throughout the course of the Yatra, addressed a huge gathering in Bijapur where he said he would soon meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to lodge "strong protest" over the issue.

"I am waiting for the Prime Minister to return from his foreign tour. I will meet him to convey my unhappiness over the Centre's negligent attitude towards Karnataka," Krishna said.

Krishna said he would also meet Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who heads the task force on drought management.

Hitting out at the Centre, he said Karnataka was granted only Rs 113 crore and 165,000 metric tonnes of foodgrains against the state's request for Rs 1,881 crore and nine lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains.

Krishna said later that his Yatra was a "roaring success" and pointed to the throngs of cheering crowd as testimony to the same.

Krishna, who received over 5,000 petitions during the Yatra, said these petitions would be computerised and processed and each petitioner will get a reply within 30 days.

He outlined various measures his government has initiated with a view to alleviate the sufferings of the drought-affected, like the Rs 3,200 crore package for farmers and a special package of Rs 880 crore. Krishna also pointed out that his government had undertaken a Rs 300 crore project to provide mid-day meals for school children.

Krishna rebuffed allegations by the Opposition that his government wasn't giving sufficient attention to the all-round development of Karnataka, saying his efforts to help farmers in the arid North Karnataka areas were there for all to see. He said his government had set up a Women's University – a first of its kind - in Bijapur, the Vice-Chancellor of which would be named in a few days, and would soon establish a Veterinary University in Bidar.

Virtually taking the government to the doorsteps of the people, Krishna had embarked on the Janaspandana Yatra on October 8 in a Volvo bus along with more than a dozen of his Ministerial colleagues and top-level bureaucrats including the Finance Commissioner, Development Commissioner and Revenue Commissioner.