'Ballari Chalo' Padyatra Enters Third Day BJP Targets Govt Over Dalit Welfare, Farmers' Suicides

(MENAFN- IANS) Raichur (Karnataka), Sep 3 (IANS) The BJP's 'Ballari Chalo' padyatra entered its third day on Thursday, with state BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra launching a fresh attack on the Karnataka government, alleging that funds meant for the welfare of Dalits were being diverted to fund guarantee schemes and accusing it of failing to address the growing distress among farmers.

Vijayendra made the remarks while flagging off the third day of the padyatra in Raichur and speaking to media persons.

He said the BJP's campaign was gaining attention across the state and was aimed at highlighting the alleged failures and corruption of the government, along with the problems faced by farmers and the common people.

“Congress is using Dalits and oppressed communities merely as a vote bank. The SCSP-TSP funds allocated for the development of Dalits are being used for guarantee schemes,” Vijayendra alleged.

Vijayendra said he had held a meeting with Dalit leaders on Wednesday to discuss issues concerning oppressed communities and demanded that funds allocated for Dalit development be utilised exclusively for their welfare.

Vijayendra also accused the government of showing little concern for farmers despite the agrarian crisis in the state.

Vijayendra alleged that 3,655 farmers had died by suicide in Karnataka over the past three years, including 937 from the Kalyana Karnataka region and added that the figures included 295 deaths in Kalaburagi, 169 in Raichur, 220 in Bidar and more than 80 in Koppal.

“These figures show the government's anti-farmer attitude. Priyank Kharge should seriously take note of the fact that 295 farmers have died by suicide in Kalaburagi district alone. The government should show concern for the plight of farmers and respond to their distress,” he said.

Demanding immediate relief, Vijayendra urged the government to waive crop loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for farmers in drought-hit areas. He claimed that drought-like conditions had emerged in more than 190 taluks and sought a crop-loan waiver for affected farmers.

He also demanded immediate payment of around Rs 145 crore allegedly pending to farmers for maize procured at the support price and sought the release of incentives due to dairy farmers.

“During B.S. Yediyurappa's tenure as Chief Minister, incentives were provided to milk producers. Now, even those incentives are not being released. The government is playing with the lives of farmers,” Vijayendra alleged.

The BJP state president demanded that the government convene a special session of the Karnataka Assembly to discuss the problems faced by farmers and find solutions to the agrarian crisis.

He also called for desilting work at the Tungabhadra dam and urged the government to accord priority to the Navali reservoir project to augment water storage capacity.

Responding to KPCC president R.B. Hariprasad's reported call for Congress workers to display black flags during the BJP padyatra, Vijayendra said the government should focus on farmers' problems rather than attempting to obstruct the BJP's protest.

“Stop the padayatra if you want. Even if you hang us, it does not matter. But first respond to the problems of farmers,” he said.

“Hariprasad and D.K. Shivakumar should wipe the tears of farmers instead of showing black flags to the BJP padayatra. Farmers are dying by suicide and the lives of the farming community are in distress. It is the government's responsibility to resolve these problems. The people are watching everything and they will give their answer at the appropriate time,” Vijayendra claimed.

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