There is simmering discontent among the farming fraternity in the region over the emerging political situation, and a section of them has decided to exercise the ‘None of the above’ (NOTA) option in the April 17 Lok Sabha polls.
What has triggered this stance to choose NOTA option en masse was the decision of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Puttanaiah faction) to declare its support to the Congress in a few constituencies in the State, including Mysore and Mandya.
N. Nanjegowda, advocate and member of the sangha, told The Hindu that over 300 farmers from Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar met here on Monday and decided to opt for NOTA.
“The message will be spread to all members of the organisation and other farmers as it is unthinkable of the sangha supporting the Congress, the BJP or the Janata Dal (Secular) as they follow anti-farmer policies,” he said.
“Some sangha leaders have forgotten the genesis and evolution of the KRRS since the 1980s, following the death of farmers at Navalgund and the Nargund police firing incident. It is unfortunate that in their quest for power, they have diluted the ideology of farmers’ organisations and sold themselves to the Congress,” said Mr. Nanjegowda, who had also led a crusade against illegal sand extraction in Mysore district.
Swaminathan report“The M.S. Swaminathan Committee report, seeking fixation of agricultural produce purchase price on the basis of ‘cost of production plus 50 per cent over it’ to ensure a decent income to farmers, has not been implemented by the Congress, which is playing with the lives of farmers,” said Mr. Nanjegowda.
He pointed out that the Congress came to power in the State with a promise that an agricultural price commission would be constituted, but it had not yet been done.
“A section of farmers has not taken kindly to the KRRS’ decision to withdraw its candidate, Nandini Jayaram, who had filed her nominations as a Sarvodaya Paksha candidate during the byelection to the Mandya Lok Sabha seat six months ago, said Mr. Nanjegowda.
He added, “the KRRS had backed the Congress then also and there is a growing perception among farmers that the sangha has sold out to the Congress, and may soon lose its identity.”
The farmers rued the fact that the organisation had overlooked the suicide of nearly 2 lakh farmers across the country in the last 10 years and was extending support to the Congress. Similarly, they had decided not to support the BJP and described both the Congress and the BJP as parties funded by corporate houses and alleged that the parties were being indirectly controlled by them.
