Communist Party of India — Marxist (CPI—M) has planned for a statewide demonstration on November 5, protesting against the government for its "failure" to address agrarian issues and check farmers' suicides. Addressing a media conference here on Monday, party's state secretariat member Mr. Nityananda Swamy said that party workers would stage dharnas outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners of all the districts.
"Union and State governments did nothing to help the drought-hit farmers except declaring some taluks drought-hit. Neither they paid compensation to farmers nor did they take any other relief work. We will mobilise farmers in large numbers in the agitations," he said.
Holding that the farm loan-waiver would help little in protecting the crisis-ridden farmer, Mr. Swamy demanded that the State government to invoke Debt Relief Act along the lines of Kerala.
Electricity starvation
Pointing at electricity crisis, Mr. Swamy said that the farmers who were dependent on groundwater-based agriculture were facing tough times owing to the improper and insufficient power supply to their farm pump-sets.
"The electricity crisis is hitting not only farm sector, but also the industrial one. The production has considerable reduced and as a result, small and medium entrepreneurs are suffering huge financial losses. Though the issue is adversely affecting the economy, the government continues to be in sound sleep as if nothing has happened," he charged.
He alleged that governments who were "insensitive" to agrarian unrest were killing time by attractive and consolatory speeches and not doing anything constructive to address the farm crisis.
"It is not the hypocritical compassion, but constructive and honest actions, that would solve farmers' problems. The governments must stop shedding crocodile tears and come up with policy support for safeguarding the interests of farming community," he said.
Attacks
He slammed State government for its incompetence in preventing increasing attacks on women, dalits, minorities and other marginalised sections apart from outspoken democratic intellectuals. "With vote-bank calculations", Mr. Swamy added, "The Chief Minister is maintaining silence even when weaker sections are under continuous attack. He is behaving as if the assaults are unrelated to him."
Party leaders Sheik Sha Khadri, K.G. Veeresh, H. Padma, Narasanna Naik, Venkappa Kengal, D.S. Sharanabasava and others were present.
