Maruti Manpade, president of the Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha, has asked the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party to urge the Union government to stop the import of sugar instead of holding ‘Raita Chaitanya Yatre’.
He alleged that the Union government could not stop the import of sugar, which he said, was one of the reasons for the suicide of sugarcane growers in the State.
Mr. Manpade told presspersons here on Saturday that the yatra was a political gimmick ahead of the zilla panchayat elections.
“While farmers are in distress following the crash in the price of sugar, the BJP’s State unit is holding rallies against the Congress government. The Congress is not the ruling party at the Centre to take a policy decision. Instead of playing petty politics and shedding crocodile tears for farmers, [the BJP should] do something to help the farmers,” he said.
Mr. Manpade also criticised the Union government for filing an affidavit before the Supreme Court declaring its inability to fix the cost of production plus 50 per cent as procurement rate for agricultural produces, as recommended by the Swaminathan committee.
“The Union government submits an affidavit before the apex court that the government cannot offer the amount as it would lead to anarchy in the market. This is ridiculous,” he said.
Mr. Manpade urged BJP leaders to pressure the Union government to withdraw the affidavit and ensure the implementation of Swaminathan committee report.
He also accused the Congress government of not forming an alternative agriculture policy for helping farmers. Mr. Manpade said that the visit of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to the State would not prevent farmers from committing suicide but a comprehensive alternative farming policy would.
Later, the sangha burnt the effigy of Ashok Kheny, for allegedly acquiring over 9,000 acres of additional government land to develop road.
