Amid the row over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's itinerary during her visit to flood affected Kodagu district, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy yesterday praised her for the help she extended for rescue operations. Sitharaman and Karnataka Minister Sa Ra Mahesh were locked in an exchange of words over her itinerary during her visit to Kodagu district on August 24 in full view of officials and the media at the District Commissioner's office.

Sitharaman was interacting with a group of affected people of Kodagu district when Mahesh, 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. This had irked the Defence Minister. In a Facebook post, Kumaraswamy said, "I am deeply pained at the turn of events with regard to the visit of Hon'ble Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman to the flood-affected areas in Kodagu district."