Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday alleged that the Center was not cooperating with the southern state to solve the problems of farmers.
He said that the ongoing winter session of the Legislature will focus on the burning issues of the state mainly farmers. He urged the opposition to come together with the government to put pressure on the Center on the issue of crop procurement and regional development.
Congress state unit president Shivkumar told reporters here, “We don’t know why the Center is not cooperating with us in resolving this matter.” We don’t know why he is not releasing funds for procurement of crops under Minimum Support Price (MSP).” The winter session of the Karnataka Legislature is being held in Belagavi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to protest on Tuesday against the “injustice being done to farmers”.
Shivakumar criticized the BJP’s call for protests and questioned the party’s record of taking decisive action on irrigation and crop procurement. He asked, “Has the BJP ever taken concrete decisions like us on Upper Krishna Project (UKP), sugarcane and maize procurement?”
Pointing to the Centre’s responsibility in setting the minimum support price for crops, he said, “Who decides the MSP? Only the center decides. It has not increased the prices of sugar for the last 10 years. Why are they not deciding to support the mills?” He said farmers should be protected even if it means losses.
Dismissing the BJP’s protests, Shivakumar said, “Since they have nothing to say, they are protesting.”
Meanwhile, reacting to Yatindra Siddaramaiah’s statement that his father Siddaramaiah will complete his five-year tenure as chief minister, Shivakumar said, “I am happy about it.”
Yathindra had claimed on Monday that the Congress high command has said that there will be no change of leadership in the state and they believe that Siddaramaiah will complete his five-year tenure as Chief Minister.
