Udupi: CM Siddaramaiah’s Words Restricted to Speech, Not Action – Shobha Karandlaje

Udupi: CM Siddaramaiah’s words are restricted to speech and not action, said Shobha Karandlaje, MP of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency. She was addressing a press meet at the District BJP office, here on July 18.

She said, “75 suicide cases of farmers have been reported in 25 days and 5 among them are from the CM’s own constituency (Mysore). Siddaramaiah is busy in delivering speeches. The agony of the farmers is unheard. 750 hobalis of 141 taluks are witnessing drought but the government is not bothered to address the problems of the farmers.”

Farmers are toiling hard to repay loans raised for agriculture. Nationalized banks are sending notices to farmers for repayment and interest of the borrowed money. Cooperative societies and middlemen are threatening the farmers, but the government is silent about it. The government should soon intervene and request nationalized banks to give a grace period of 6 months for the farmers to repay their loans. Action should be taken against middlemen engaged in giving loans to farmers at higher rates of interest.

“No favourable action has been initiated by the government to control farmers committing suicide. Cabinet ministers are not bothered about farmers committing suicide. They have restricted themselves to their constituencies and districts. Siddaramaiah is destroying hopes that the farmers have. He has never visited the ailing families of farmers who have committed suicide. The government, in the last legislative assembly session, promised to pay Rs 2500 per tonne of sugarcane but the promises have not been honoured.”

“The state’s most trusted anti-corruption corrective agency, the Lokayukta, has lost its sanctity. Corruption is at its peak, but still the CM argues about technical problems rather than solving the issue by consulting the speaker. The Lokayukta should be sacked from office and the government should lead this initiative.” She alleged the CM’s role in the corruption of Lokayukta.

She accused the Congress government of using the Lokayukta as a tool to suppress the voices raised against them. “Numerous cases are filed against former chief minister Yeddyurappa to silence him. The CM has not investigated the 900 acre denotification of Arkavathy but is eager to probe others. Corrupt officials and ministers have been sheltered by the Congress government. The CM should consult the Governor on the Lokayukta and take a stand on the issue to restore the faith of people in the agency.”

She further said that the government is involved in a sand mining scam causing a loss of Rs 7000 crore to the state exchequer. “Sand is sold to Maharashtra and Goa, which is a clear violation of the law. The families of cabinet ministers are involved in sand mining but the government is silent on the same.”

She also said that she has been following up with Suresh Prabhu, the Minister for Railways, on the doubling of the Konkan railway lane, including its electrification. The connectivity to Mangalore port through the Konkan Railway lane will turn KR profitable, she added.

BJP District President Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde; Mattaru Rathnakar Shetty, ZP Member Geethanjali Suvarna, Shymala Kunder, Kuthyar Naveen Shetty, Yaspal Suvarna, Sandhya Ramesh Kanchan and others were present.