CPI(M) to launch stir for rice at Rs. 2/kg in Karnataka

Demanding rice at Rs. 2 a kg as promised in the election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will stage an indefinite dharna in front of the Vidhana Soudha from April 22, CPI(M) State secretariat member Maruti Manpade has said.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, he accused the State Government of failing to keep the promise made during the last Assembly elections. He said that essential commodities, such as rice, in the State were among the most expensive in the country.

Over one lakh people expected to participate in the ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo' agitation

Manpade slams Chief Minister for ‘anti-farmer' budget

“Kerala offers rice at Rs. 12 a kg, West Bengal at Rs. 23 a kg and Maharashtra at Rs. 25 a kg, but rice in the State is sold at Rs. 42 a kg,” he said.

Mr. Manpade claimed that over one lakh people were expected to participate in the “Vidhana Soudha Chalo” agitation aimed at pressuring the Government to fulfil its promise.

With regard to the Government's proposal to ban cow slaughter, Mr. Manpade said that the move was intended to slaughter the food habits of minorities and backward communities. “In the name of protecting cows, the Government is trying to curb the consumption of beef, which is a staple diet of millions of people.” He alleged that the Government had not consulted experts of the Department of Animal Husbandry before going ahead with the move.

Mr. Manpade cautioned the Government that if cows were not slaughtered for meat, it would lead to an acute shortage of fodder.

He termed the State Budget “anti-farmer” and said that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had not made an attempt to enhance growth in the agricultural sector, which was on the decline. The economic growth of the State was only 5.5 per cent, while agricultural growth was barely 0.1 per cent, he said. The per capita income of the State was Rs. 32,411, but the per capita income of farmers was just Rs. 14,690.

“The Government has not announced any schemes to bridge this gap,” he said.

He accused the Government of encouraging the activities of the land mafia through the land bank scheme, which aims at acquiring around 2 lakh acres land in the State for “development works”.