DK Shivakumar blasts Centre over 'neglect' of Karnataka farmers

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday (December 9) said that the Union government was not cooperating with the state to solve the farmers' problems.

He noted that the state legislature's ongoing winter session would focus on the burning issues in the state, particularly faced by the farmers, and he urged the Opposition to join the government to pressurise the Union government over crop procurement and regional development.

Winter session

"We don't know why the Centre is not cooperating with us to resolve the matter. We don't know why it is not releasing funds to procure crops under Minimum Support Price (MSP)," Shivakumar said.

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The winter session of the Karnataka Legislature is in progress in Belagavi. The BJP has decided to stage a protest on Tuesday against the injustice to the farmers.

Reiterating that the session must meaningfully address these concerns, he said, "It is our wish that the Centre should release funds for the welfare of Kittur Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka regions. We believe that the session will deliberate on these issues."

BJP slammed

Shivakumar criticised the BJP's call for a demonstration, questioning the party's record in taking decisive steps on irrigation and crop procurement.

"Did the BJP ever take such firm decisions as we did on Upper Krishna Project (UKP), sugarcane and maize procurement?" he asked and noted that the state had decided to buy a certain amount of maize and highlighted the gravity of the crisis in the sugar industry.

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"Sugar factory owners are in tears..., factories are on the verge of closure," he said, adding that the government was "pressurising the Centre to bear the expenses together."

Pointing to the Union government's responsibility in support prices, he said, "Who decides MSP? It's the Centre only. It didn't enhance sugar prices for the past 10 years. Why aren't they supporting the factories?" He added that the farmers should be saved even if it results in losses.

Farmers protest

Meanwhile, maize growers have been protesting, demanding procurement at Rs 3,000 per quintal. The current MSP is Rs 2,400 per quintal, and farmers are seeking a Rs 600 bonus. Ahead of the session, the state government announced increasing maize procurement from 20 quintals per farmer to 50 quintals at Rs 2,400 per quintal.

Maintaining that the political fight should not be fragmented, he said the fight should not be by the BJP or the farmers. It is the state that should raise its voice against the Union government.

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Shivakumar dismissed the BJP's protest plans, saying, "Since they don't have anything to say, they are protesting."

Meanwhile, reacting to Yathindra Siddaramaiah's statement that his father Siddaramaiah would complete a five-year term as Chief Minister, Shivakumar said, "I am glad about it".

Yathindra, on December 8, claimed that the Congress high command said that there was no leadership change in the state, and he believed that Siddaramaiah would continue as CM for five years.