BJP Seeks ₹25,000 Per Acre Drought Relief in Karnataka, Meets Central Team
Bengaluru: Karnataka’s BJP has demanded drought relief of ₹25,000 per acre, with Assembly Opposition Leader R. Ashoka urging a central assessment team to recommend greater assistance for farmers facing crop losses and drinking-water shortages.
Ashoka and Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy met the central team at Kumarakrupa Guest House in Bengaluru on October 6 and submitted a memorandum on the drought situation.
Demand for higher compensation
Speaking after the meeting, Ashoka alleged that the state government had failed to adequately support affected farmers. He contrasted the BJP’s demand for ₹25,000 per acre with the government’s announced assistance of ₹2,500 per family, which he claimed had not been properly disbursed.
He also alleged that an earlier announcement of ₹1 crore for each taluk had not translated into releases and that insufficient money had been provided for drinking-water arrangements.
Ashoka claimed crop damage had affected more than half the area in the state and that about ten farmers had died by suicide since the drought began. He asked the visiting team to examine farmers’ circumstances and submit a comprehensive report recommending additional central relief.
According to Ashoka, the team assured the opposition delegation that it would submit its report promptly. He welcomed the Centre’s response and said assistance should be directed towards farmers’ needs.
Citing the BJP government’s response in 2021–22, he said the state had then used its own resources to provide compensation above NDRF norms without waiting for central assistance. He urged the Congress government to follow that approach.
Milk incentive and price concerns
Ashoka criticised the government’s financial management, alleging that higher bus fares, property taxes and electricity charges were increasing the burden on households while funds for relief and development remained inadequate.
He also called for fulfilment of the Congress manifesto promise to raise milk producers’ incentive from ₹5 to ₹8. Paying the additional ₹3 to farmers should take priority over increasing the price paid by consumers, he argued.
Asked about D.K. Shivakumar’s participation in a GST meeting, Ashoka said he would wait to see which demands were raised on Karnataka’s behalf, noting that decisions would depend on the views of participating states.
Opposition to splitting Bengaluru police
The BJP leader also opposed what he described as a government move to divide Bengaluru’s police commissionerate into five units. He argued that the existing structure should be strengthened and alleged that a split would create administrative confusion.
Ashoka linked those concerns to the reorganisation of Bengaluru’s civic administration and urged the government to reconsider the police proposal. His criticism of relief disbursement, crop losses and administrative changes formed part of the opposition’s demands following the meeting.
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