Bengaluru, May 19: Central minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy has accused the Karnataka Congress government of suppressing cases of farmer suicides in the state. He stated that while the government is busy celebrating its achievements, farmers continue to take their own lives.
Speaking to reporters at the JD(S) office in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy referenced data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). He claimed that in 2023, 2,423 farmers and agricultural laborers committed suicide in Karnataka, with the number rising to 2,971 in 2024.
“In just two years, 5,394 farmers have lost their lives. Karnataka ranks second in the country for farmer suicides. Is the government unaware of these figures, or is it deliberately hiding them?” he questioned.
Kumaraswamy expressed shock upon reading reports about farmer suicides in newspapers. He accused the government of ignoring this serious issue while organizing grand conferences.
“I had hoped the government would wake up after such news emerged, but instead, it is busy celebrating at conferences, showing no concern for farmers,” he said.
He also criticized the Congress government for spending millions on celebrations while farmers suffer. “This government has effectively built a grave over farmers’ lives, showcasing its grandeur on top of it. Farmers are dying every day, yet the government celebrates under the guise of guarantee schemes,” he added.
Kumaraswamy questioned the effectiveness of the government’s guarantee schemes, asking why farmers are still committing suicide if the programs are indeed successful.
He alleged that officials are being misused to gather crowds for government events, as people are not voluntarily attending Congress programs.
Raising concerns about the revenue department’s operations, he noted that while the government promotes revenue-related schemes at conferences, farmers across the state are still grappling with severe issues.
Responding to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s challenge regarding the Bidadi Township project, Kumaraswamy stated he is ready for public debate anywhere. He claimed that around 3,500 people have filed objections and petitions against the project, alleging that farmers are facing pressure from goons and police. “If the project truly benefited farmers, they would willingly give up their land,” he asserted, urging the government to reconsider the project in the farmers’ interest.
During the discussion, he also announced that former MLA Akhand Srinivas Murthy is likely to join JD(S) soon. Kumaraswamy revealed that he met Murthy at his residence in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning, where they discussed strengthening the party organization.
“They are interested in joining JD(S), and a date for their formal induction into the party will be set soon,” he concluded.
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