'Will raise weavers’ issue in Assembly session'

Opposition leader in the Assembly B S Yeddyurappa said that all the 104 MLAs from BJP will raise the issue of weavers in the Assembly session and will urge the state government to release compensation for the weavers.

“We will not allow the session to continue without the announcement of compensation,” he said during the second day of Devanga community convention organised by Karnataka Rajya Devanga Sangha and Tarikere Taluk Devanga Samaja on Tuesday.

“If I was the chief minister, I would have waived all the loans borrowed by weavers within a week. I will be with the weavers in the future also. I am ready to write in blood and give it on my promise,” he added.

“As a chief minister in the past, I had introduced Suvarna textile policy, announced Devara Dasimayya Chair at Hampi University, Dasoha Mantapa at Mudenooru at a cost of Rs 2 crore, free looms and other development works for the welfare of weavers,” said Yeddyurappa.

Former minister B J Puttaswamy said B S Yeddyurappa had introduced several social welfare programmes for backward classes.

MP Shobha Karandlaje said that it is sad that none of the ministers and elected representatives from the coalition government had taken part in the convention.

State Devanga Nekara Samaja president G Ramesh said, “The government programmes are not satisfactory. All the political parties should introspect on their contribution. The weavers are in distress. The government should revive the handloom and textile sector by providing basic facilities.”

The GST on raw materials and ready-made garments have pushed the weavers to hardship. The Kerala government had announced Rs 1,000 crore package for weavers. The government should introduce reservation for weavers, he added.