The spate of farmers’ suicides in the State created a furore in both Houses of the legislature on Monday as the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party staged a dharna demanding it be allowed to discuss the issue under the adjournment motion that has a censuring clause.
Even as the protest disrupted proceedings in both Houses, the division in the Opposition over the issue was visible as the Janata Dal (Secular) distanced itself from the BJP’s dharna.
As soon as the Assembly met in the morning, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar raised the issue of farmers’ suicides and appealed to Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa to allow the BJP members to move an adjournment motion. The Speaker, however, turned it down by saying that the issue had already been discussed in the Belagavi session.
He told BJP members that the issue could be considered only after the Question Hour. Taking exception to this, the BJP members trouped into the well of the House.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explained the measures taken by the State government to tackle agrarian crisis and accused the BJP of politicising the issue. He said apart from his decision to visit houses of the deceased farmers, the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police had been instructed to visit their houses to find out the reason for their death.
Disagreeing with the BJP’s accusation that the government lacked commitment to farmers’ welfare, Mr. Siddaramaiah said there was no need for him to learn about farmers’ welfare from the BJP.
The BJP members hit back by alleging that Mr. Siddaramaiah was planning to visit the houses of deceased farmers only after AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi deciding to visit Karnataka.
Heated arguments between the two forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for some time. However, the BJP members resumed their dharna even after the House reassembled and the Speaker took up the Question Hour amidst the dharna.
The Speaker allowed discussion on farmers’ suicides under a non-censuring clause in the post-lunch session, during which Mr. Shettar demanded waiver of farmers’ loans up to Rs. 2 lakh, besides a revolving fund of Rs. 5,000 crore for market intervention scheme.
In the Council, Leader of the Opposition K.S. Eshwarappa urged the government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the measures to be taken to instil confidence among farmers.
Errant taxi drivers fined
As many as 195 cases have been booked against errant taxi drivers and fine of Rs. 5,07,774 imposed on them. Meru Cabs and Ola Cabs have also violated norms and the transport authorities are planning to initiate action against them. Nine companies have obtained licences to run over 20,000 taxis in Bengaluru city, said Minister for Transport R. Ramalinga Reddy in his reply in Legislative Council.
