Ballari, July 16: Karnataka BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Wednesday alleged that the Congress government in the state was pursuing an anti-poor and anti-farmer administration and said the BJP would intensify its fight against it.
Addressing a press conference in Ballari, Vijayendra criticised the Chief Minister, alleging that he was giving greater priority to real estate than to farmers.
He alleged that when the Chief Minister was serving as Irrigation Minister, it took 24 months to repair the crest gate of the Tungabhadra reservoir, due to which farmers suffered huge losses as they were unable to raise a second crop. In contrast, he claimed, an order relating to the Bidadi Township was issued within 24 hours of his becoming Chief Minister.
Vijayendra said farmers were protesting against the Bidadi Township project as it would lead to the loss of fertile agricultural land. He said the situation in which farmers and women had taken to protest with brooms in hand had arisen because of what he described as the anti-farmer approach of the Chief Minister and the Congress government.
He urged the Chief Minister not to “play games” with farmers and instead take decisions in their favour. He also demanded the immediate withdrawal of cases registered against farmers and leaders of various organisations who were agitating against the Bidadi Township project. He further urged the government to immediately stop what he described as repression against farmers.
Vijayendra said BJP MLAs, MPs, former MLAs and former MPs would stage a day-long dharna at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on July 17, from morning to evening, demanding the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers and scrapping of the Bidadi Township project.
He also accused the government of having completely failed in drought management.
Referring to the drought situation, Vijayendra said the Chief Minister had written to the Prime Minister stating that Karnataka was facing a severe drought and seeking the visit of a Central team of officials to the state. He said it was surprising that despite such a serious situation, the Chief Minister and ministers had not toured the districts.
Questioning the state’s handling of the crisis, he asked, “Is President’s Rule in force in Karnataka?” He also criticised the government for not having a full-time Agriculture Minister during a period of such distress.
Vijayendra said that in Ballari, Koppal, Vijayanagar, Raichur, Kalaburagi and Bidar districts, crops sown by farmers had not even germinated because of deficient rainfall. He urged the government not to “play with the lives of farmers” and to immediately respond to their distress by announcing compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre.
Taking a swipe at the discussions around Cabinet expansion, Vijayendra said talks had already begun on expansion of the state ministry and that MLAs aspiring for ministerial berths were looking towards Delhi. He further claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had instructed that no one should come to meet him for three days and remarked sarcastically that he was resting after a 15-20 day tour.
Vijayendra also demanded the immediate appointment of an Agriculture Minister for the state and said the government must respond to farmers’ problems during the drought.
He said the BJP and JD(S) would jointly raise a fight against what he called anti-farmer policies during the legislature session beginning on August 6.
According to Vijayendra, issues including the Bidadi Township project, burning problems of North Karnataka and the distress of farmers in the Cauvery basin would be raised during the session. He said farmers in the Cauvery basin had come out onto the streets and added that when even cattle were facing a shortage of drinking water, it was not right for the government to move ahead with releasing water to Tamil Nadu. He urged the government to adopt a stand that protected the interests of farmers in the state.
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