Shivamogga (Karnataka), Sep 18 (IANS) The BJP staged a protest in Shikaripura town in Shivamogga district against what it alleged were the Karnataka government’s anti-farmer policies.
BJP State President, B.Y. Vijayendra, accused the government of failing to understand and address the problems faced by farmers in the state.
Addressing the protest, Vijayendra claimed the agitation was aimed at warning the government about the hardships faced by farmers and demanding that it take steps to resolve their problems.
Referring to the problems faced by farmers living along forest fringes in the context of the Gadgil and Kasturirangan committee reports, Vijayendra said it could not be accepted that these committees were constituted only on the basis of orders from the High Court or Supreme Court of any state.
He said the Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees were constituted during the tenure of the previous Congress-led UPA government. As a result of the impact of these reports, farmers living in forest-fringe areas are now forced to come onto the streets and protest, he alleged.
“Mr. Madhu Bangarappa (Minister for Education and Literacy), if you want to launch a protest, you must first understand your responsibility as a minister of the state government,” Vijayendra said.
Vijayendra alleged that the government had failed to seriously address irrigation problems faced by farmers in Shikaripura and surrounding areas.
“The Chief Minister does not even have the time to understand the problems of farmers. The government, which should respond to their hardships and find solutions, is ignoring their problems,” Vijayendra alleged.
He also questioned the government’s achievements in addressing the basic needs of poor and vulnerable sections of society.
Referring to the period since the Congress came to power, Vijayendra said the government had spoken extensively about its guarantee schemes but questioned what it had achieved in providing basic assistance to poor people.
“In the last three-and-a-half years, the government has not been able to provide a house to a single poor person. It has not been able to provide a single Ganga Kalyana scheme. The government is also not coming forward to provide pensions to eligible persons with disabilities,” Vijayendra alleged.
He criticised the government for allegedly focusing on political announcements instead of addressing the real problems faced by people.
Vijayendra praised the discipline and fighting spirit displayed by BJP workers and farmers at the protest.
“For the last three-and-a-half hours, not a single worker has got up from their chair. This is the quality of the soil of Shikaripura; this is the spirit of struggle,” he said.
He said the people of Shikaripura and BJP workers had the strength to continue fighting for farmers and the common people. It can be noted that Vijayendra represents Shikaripura Assembly segment. Earlier, the constituency was represented by his father, former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa.
Vijayendra expressed confidence that a BJP-led NDA government would come to power in Karnataka in the future.
He recalled the development undertaken in Shikaripura during the tenure of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and said the people had witnessed that period of development.
“Nobody can stop us from bringing back good days when development works will once again be carried out in Shivamogga district and Shikaripura in the same manner,” he said.
–IANS
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