'Govts fail to address issues of sericulturists'

Speaking at a press meet in Mandya recently, he said the Centre’s decision to reduce the import duty of raw silk from 30 per cent to five per cent has come as a blow to the silk growers as this has led to the slash in prices. Though the farmers have been highlighting the problem through various means, both the BJP and the Centre are turning a blind eye towards the issue.

Nineteen leaders of BJP have been elected as the members of parliament and it is also the opposition party in the Centre. Moreover, four ministers of the UPA government are highly influential, but unfortunately no one is taking any step to bring relief to the farmers reeling under the problem, he criticised.

He also opined that the UPA government is not only neglecting the problems of the sericulturists but also the agricultural sector as a whole. The MPs and ministers representing the state should stress the Centre to look into the problems of the silk growers, he added.

JD(S) and CPM have staged several protests to highlight the problem, but in vain, he said.
Commenting on the latest political development in the state, he said that the current government is only for namesake. With D V Sadanandagowda taking over as the chief minister, the JD(S) will not tolerate this dominance of corruption all over the state, he warned.

MLAs M Srinivas, A B Ramesh Babu, JD(S) president D Ramesh were also present.