Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar not concerned about drought situation in Karnataka, alleges BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra

BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra has alleged that the Karnataka government is not giving due attention to the plight of farmers, even as the State is anticipating severe drought.

“The CM should give attention to farmers’ problems, as much as he is interested in the real-estate sector,” he said while speaking to the media during his visit to Shivamogga on Tuesday (July 21).

Except for a video conference with Deputy Commissioners, the Chief Minister has done nothing to handle the drought situation, Mr. Vijayendra claimed, adding that no Minister had visited the villages to analyse the situation. The farmers who sowed seeds have complained of no growth in the fields, while a majority have not taken up cultivation, he stated. “When farmers are in distress, the Chief Minister writes to the Prime Minister as though he has no responsibility. The State government should respond to the situation,” the BJP leader said.

Attempts being made to create anarchy: Vijayendra

On the ongoing protests over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Mr. Vijayendra said the BJP was not opposed to peaceful protests. However, he alleged that attempts were being made to create anarchy in the name of protests and that political parties were using students and the youth to further their interests. “The youngsters are being projected at the forefront, while those behind the protests are political parties,” he alleged.

Reacting to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s comments criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the students’ protest, Mr. Vijayendra recalled that during Mr. Siddaramaiah’s rule in the State, hundreds of youth hit the streets demanding the government fill up vacancies.

Further, he said that his party would conduct a two-day Maha Samparka Abhiyana across Karnataka on July 25 and 26 to spread awareness about the Special Intensive Revision of the voters’ list. The campaign will be held in all Assembly constituencies, with MPs, legislators and party workers reaching out to people across the State, he said.

The party has set a target of reaching one crore households during the two-day campaign and will seek to reach as many households as possible to create awareness about the enumeration forms, he said.