The State Government had been was working in favour of industrialists and not for farmers, said Siddanagowda Patil, Communist Party of India's Karnataka State Committee secretary.

Mr. Patil was addressing the party workers at Nehru Maidan on Friday.

He said although Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and his predecessor B.S. Yeddyurappa had said in public that they would work towards betterment of farmers but it was yet to be put into action.

Mr. Patil said the Government had been taking away large tracts of agricultural lands for setting up industrial units. “Minister Murgesh Nirani is pursuing setting up of Posco plant in Gadag, despite opposition,” he said.

He said despite High Court and Supreme Court orders the State Government had not taken any action for the welfare of beedi workers. The Government had been silent on the demands of beedi workers. Mr. Patil said the BJP-led Government in the State was bogged down by corruption charges faced by its party men and had no face to question the Congress leaders, who are facing charges of corruption.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's Government at the Centre had been working towards lowering the yardstick for identification of below poverty line (BPL) families. This yardstick was being proposed only with an intention to bring the number of BPL families and cut down the social welfare schemes. Kasargod MLA E. Chandrasekharan, CPI Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district committee's secretary P. Sanjeev and CPI Chikmagalur district committee's secretary B. Amzad spoke.

A large number of CPI party workers participated in the rally from Shanti Nilaya in Balmatta to the Nehru Maidan. The event was held as a preparatory for the National CPI party meet to be held in Patna from March 27.

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