NimmaKarnataka.com

Karnataka CM upsets farmers

Wednesday, 02 July 2008

Chief minister Mr BS Yeddyurappa's decision against providing free power to all the farmers has jolted the party cadres and the farmers in particular while predictably delighting the Opposition. The party, which had assured free and uninterrupted supply of power to over 16 lakh farmers in the state as part of its poll plank , has suddenly realised that it is one thing to make a promise and another to fulfil it. Mr Yeddyurappa also said today he would lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi tomorrow to press for release of sufficient stocks of fertilisers to the state. He accused the UPA government of failing to honour the promise made on 11 June to supply fertilizer in adequate quantity.This explains why when the chief minister clarified in a Bangalore Doordarshan programme last night that it would not be possible to cover all the farmers but only selective farmers under the free power supply scheme, the opposition began sharpening its knives. Even the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, a farmers’ outfit, slammed him for reneging on BJP's poll promise, even terming it as the worst betrayal of farmers. Coming as it does within weeks of the fertilisers’ crisis and the consequent increase in the number of suicides by the farmers, the latest announcement on the power supply front ,is set to make things difficult for the BJP. According to Mr GC  Reddy, general secretary of KPRS, the BJP had assured that it would implement its promise of free power supply within 24 hours of assuming office. Within a month of being in the government, it has not only fired on the farmers but even failed to provide them the required fertilizers. Now, he said, it was going back on its promise on free supply of power to the farmers. Criticism apart, the fact is that Mr Yeddyurappa has been forced to see reason by his officials from the power and finance departments who did not mince words while highlighting the impact of fulfilling the party's poll promise. As a senior official told The Statesman, the government is already subsidizing power to the tune of Rs 1800 crore. In the event it decides to provide free power to the 16 lakh farmers with irrigation pumpsets, the additional subsidy would come to a staggering Rs 900 crore. Where would this money come from? Following the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by the Centre ,the Yeddyurappa  government has slashed the sales tax and vat on these products. As a result, it has resulted in a loss of Rs 275 crore to the state exchequer.

 

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