Accusing the Congress Government in Karnataka of completely failing to manage the drought situation, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy said suicide by farmers has once again begun in the State.
Expressing deep concern over the suicide of a farmer couple in Hatna Bevukallu village of Mandya taluk, reportedly driven by mounting debt, the Union Minister urged the government of Karnataka to take immediate steps to prevent further loss of precious lives.
Mr. Kumaraswamy was speaking to reporters after visiting Hatna Bevukallu village to offer his condolences and extend support to the bereaved family, on July 31.
Pointing out that Karnataka was witnessing yet another wave of farmer suicides, he said hundreds of farmers are being pushed towards taking their own lives. “Crop losses have been extensive across several parts of the State,” he said.
The Minister pointed out that banks had already begun issuing notices to farmers with outstanding loans, and questioned what measures the State Government was taking to address the crisis.
“The greatest tragedy is that Karnataka does not even have an Agriculture Minister at a time when farmers are facing such severe hardship,” he said.
Criticising the Congress leadership, he noted that the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs had spent the last few days in New Delhi to discuss Cabinet expansion.
“The party high command will decide who becomes a Minister. Instead of spending time in Delhi over Cabinet positions, the government should be working for the people of Karnataka,” he said.
“This government has never truly taken off. It must put aside concerns over ministerial positions and Cabinet expansion, and immediately come to the aid of farmers,” he said.
All-party meeting
The Union Minister confirmed that the JD(S) would participate in the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on the Cauvery issue. “We will attend the meeting in the interest of Karnataka’s farmers and present our position,” he said.
He added that convening an all-party meeting was not unprecedented, and appealed to all political parties to adopt a united resolution safeguarding Karnataka’s interests.
“However, we still do not know what arguments the State Government placed before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). I have already made it clear that I believe the Authority’s decision is flawed,” he stated.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said Karnataka was repeatedly being made to bear the burden whenever water shortage arose, a situation he described as unacceptable.
He maintained that the CWMA should first assess the actual storage available in Cauvery basin reservoirs in Karnataka, while also evaluating the water levels in Mettur and Bhavani reservoirs in Tamil Nadu.
“The Authority should have deputed teams to both States, conducted a detailed field assessment, and only thereafter issued its directions,” he said.
The Minister questioned whether Tamil Nadu was seeking water for drinking purposes or for irrigation, stating that the government of Karnataka should obtain complete clarity on the matter.
“When Karnataka is unable to provide adequate water to its own farmers, it is simply not possible to release water to a neighbouring State under such difficult circumstances,” he emphasised.
Responding to a question, Kumaraswamy said that all aspects of the issue would be discussed during the all-party meeting and that the JD(S) would place several firm demands before the State Government to safeguard Karnataka’s irrigation interests.
Former Minister C.S. Puttaraju, JD(S) Legislature Party Leader Suresh Babu, district JD(S) president D. Ramesh, and senior leader Ramachandra were among those accompanying the Union Minister.
(If any one is in distress or having suicidal tendencies, please reach out to TeleMANAS at 1-8008914416 or 14416, NIMHANS at 080-26685948, 9480829670 or SAHAI at 080-25497777 or +91-9886444075)
