'Centre, state have failed to solve farmers' woes'

JD(S) state unit president H D Kumaraswamy charged that the district-in-charge minister has failed to tackle drought and elephant menace haunting the district.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said the district has seen five in-charge ministers in the last three years. There is drought like situation in 160 taluks of the state. Inspite of appealing to the Centre, only Rs 450 crore has been released so far. Whether the exchequer of the Centre is also empty, he questioned.

He said both the Centre and the state governments have failed to listen to the problems of coffee, sugarcane and paddy growers. The minimum support price announced by the government is less than that of market price, he claimed.

Kumaraswamy said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the chief secretary should consider the issue of Karnataka High Court’s circular that ministers and MLAs cannot share dias with judges and the chief justice seriously and solve the row.

He called upon the Vokkaliga community members, who are called by different names, to unite for the welfare of members.

He was speaking at a Guruvandane programme organised by Vokkaligara Kshemabhivruddhi Sangha at Kothooru in Virajpet taluk on Saturday.

“There are four lakh members in Halakki community, who are deprived of educational facilites. The society can develop when all the community members are taken on the path of progress,” he added.

Adichunchanagiri Mutt seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami said the mutts should help in the development of the country. “One should see God at home by spreading the message of love. If spiritual atmosphere is created at home, then the children will walk on the path of righteousness.” 

The Adichunchanagiri Mutt is imparting education to thousands of children. Those who come from poor background can enrol their children to the educational institutions of the mutt, he added.

Kothooru Vokkaliga community senior leaders V T Thammaiah, Ramaiah, V T Thamaiah and V V Ramaiah were felicitated.