Bengaluru, June 3: R. Ashok, the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and a senior BJP leader, accused the Congress government on Wednesday of failing to release pending payments to farmers selling ragi under the central Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme.
Ashok claimed that the state government has withheld payments amounting to ₹1,611 crore, affecting over 100,000 farmers across Karnataka. This delay comes at a critical time as the monsoon season has begun, and farmers are preparing their fields for sowing.
He stated that while farmers are gearing up for cultivation, they are forced to knock on the Congress government’s door to receive their hard-earned money.
According to Ashok, the pending payments under the MSP scheme include ₹370 crore for 34,543 farmers in Tumakuru, ₹320 crore for 29,090 farmers in Hassan, ₹179 crore for 16,659 farmers in Mysuru, ₹169 crore for 14,297 farmers in Chikkamagaluru, and ₹126 crore for 11,521 farmers in Mandya.
Criticizing the government, Ashok alleged that it has funds for large public events, chartered flights to Delhi, and activities to please party leaders, yet it fails to settle farmers’ dues.
He claimed that due to the government’s negligence, farmers are now compelled to take loans for preparing their land, purchasing seeds, and arranging fertilizers. He emphasized that this predicament is not caused by nature or drought, but by the Congress government’s bankrupt administration.
Ashok accused the government of jeopardizing farmers’ livelihoods by withholding payments and warned that if the pending amount is not released immediately, the BJP will join farmers in protests across the state.
He demanded that the Karnataka government release the outstanding ₹1,611 crore without delay. He also stressed that any government that has wronged farmers does not remain politically viable for long.
The opposition leader also questioned the Congress leadership regarding the delay in expanding the state cabinet, alleging that internal power struggles and concerns over upcoming Rajya Sabha elections have stalled the process.
Ashok launched a sharp attack on outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of leaving the state in a severe financial crisis before handing over leadership to D.K. Shivakumar. He added that Siddaramaiah’s current efforts seem focused on securing a significant position for his son.
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