Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha has alleged that the Congress legislators are trying to gain political mileage in the purchase of paddy at minimum support price.
Addressing a press conference, Vice-President of the State unit of the Sangha Chamarasa Malipatil Bettadur said: “Though the paddy purchase centres have been started at Manvi and Sindhanur from May 6, the farmers could not sell the crop as they could not fulfill the conditions laid down”.  
The Union government had laid down the conditions for the purchase of paddy.

Only pressure
Though Congress was in power at the Centre, the party’s legislators in the district did not try to relax the conditions. Moreover, they only exerted pressure on the Government to open paddy purchase centres in the district, he said.
Malipatil also pointed out that paddy was not purchased from the purchase centres last year in the district.
“Taking note of this, the Raitha Sangha  had not urged the State government to purchase paddy at minimum support price this year”, he clarified.
Further, he challenged the government to purchase the paddy from revolving funds by keeping aside the condition, if it really had the concern.

Appeal to merchants
Stating that the State and Union governments were not of any help to the farmers, Malipatil made an appeal to the merchants to purchase paddy from the farmers at higher prices.
“In fact, there has been cordial relations between the farmers and the merchants”, he said requesting them that they should not be reluctant as rice husk could also fetch a better price.
District Raitha Sangha leaders Lakshmanagowda Kad-angadoddi, Jafarsab, Nar-asanagowda and Narasappa were present on the occasion.