Vijayendra Slams Congress, Says 2,500 Farmer Suicides Karnataka Govt's 'Only Achievement'

Belagavi: Accusing the Congress government of being “anti-farmer” and failing to respond to widespread crop loss and agrarian distress across Karnataka, BJP state president BY Vijayendra on Tuesday alleged that the government’s only “achievement” in its two-and-a-half years in power was the suicide of 2,500 farmers across the state.

He was speaking at the protest rally organised by the BJP at the Malini City Grounds to condemn what it called the Congress government’s anti-farmer policies.

“I want to tell the Chief Minister in front of the farmers any government, no matter how many MLAs it has, cannot survive if it is anti-farmer,” he warned.

Taking a dig at Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, he said, “Yathindra says the Chief Minister will complete five years. Let him know for how many days he remains CM is not the question the real question farmers are asking is how he responds to their problems.”

Vijayendra said the party’s Raitha Morcha has been holding protests for several months in district headquarters and Assembly segments to highlight the government’s “neglect.”

Vijayendra said farmers, already hit by heavy rains and damaged crops, have received no compensation from the state government. “A responsible government should have sent ministers to the affected regions to understand the situation. Farmers are on the streets, but this government has not shown any concern. It is unfortunate for the state,” he said.

Citing the previous BJP government’s response during natural calamities, he said former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had visited every district and provided higher compensation.

“While the NDRF compensation was Rs 1 lakh, Yediyurappa gave Rs 5 lakh. But in the last two-and-a-half years, not a single new programme has been announced for farmers,” he said.

Vijayendra also criticised the government for discontinuing the Raitha Vidyanidhi and the state’s share in PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, alleging that over 2,500 farmers have died by suicide during the current government’s tenure. “If the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister truly acted on their words, these suicides would not have happened,” he said.

“People are asking whether you have responded to the distress of farmers. Why has the government not addressed the suffering of growers of paddy, sugarcane, cotton, and maize, the very food providers of this state?” he said.

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said the voices of farmers should resonate inside Suvarna Soudha and Vidhana Soudha.

“The protest will continue inside the Assembly as well. Karnataka does not have a functioning government it is lifeless,” he criticised.

BJP leaders and farmer representatives who were marching towards Suvarna Soudha after holding a massive protest at the Malini City Grounds were detained by the police.