From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 15: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has emphasized the importance of setting up a working group between US officials and Karnataka’s Administration for increasing Pharma related R&D as well as drug production in Karnataka.

He was interacting with the delegation led by Rahul Gupta, Director- White House Office of National Drug Control Policy at his Home Office Krishna. Rahul Gupta explained in detail about the measures taken by President Joe Biden’s Office to increase cooperation between India and USA in Drug Policy Formulation and Drug production and in the field of Narcotic Drugs’ Control in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Bommai agreed to initiate necessary dialogue in this direction and sought more investments by US companies in Pharma sector in Karnataka.

The Chief Minister said Karnataka has already become a hub of drug research and welcomed more investments by US companies in drug and vaccine production for the world.

The US delegation included Harinder S Panesar, President of Global Indian Trade and Cultural Council. N.Manjunath Prasad, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Jayaram Raipura, Secretary to the Chief Minister were present in the meeting.

Assistance to check pest attack

The Chief Minister, who reached Chikkamagaluru district later, said the State Government is fully prepared to check the spread of pest attack to the commercial crops.

He said the arecanut in the Malnad region has been attacked by a particular pest and the universities concerned and the central government agencies are into the work of finding solutions to the pest.

The government has released Rs 10 crore grant to spray pesticide, he said adding: If the agricultural scientists find out the reasons for pest, treatment and other things the government will take necessary steps in this regard. Since the pest is spreading in an alarming stage the government has taken it quite seriously.

Input subsidy soon

On the question of input subsidy over damage to onion and other crops in Malenadu and Bayaluseeme region, the Chief Minister said the government has doubled the input subsidy being given to farmers for the crop damage due to natural calamities.

Already, Rs 99 crore input subsidy has been distributed to farmers. The government will pay the input subsidy if the district administration takes up joint survey and submit a report.

The previous governments were distributing input subsidy after one year but the incumbent responsive government had distributed the input subsidy within one and a half months, he said.

Asked about leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah seeking votes in the compassionate manner, Bommai wished Siddaramaiah to live for one hundred years.

But he must remember that the people of Karnataka believed his words and votes for the Congress Party in 2013 Assembly polls. But the people felt dejected and did not like governance by the Congress, he said.

A number of murders and robberies took place during that regime. A majority of the programs failed to reach the people. So the Congress lost in 2018 Assembly polls. Now Siddaramaiah has the right to request the people to make him the Chief Minister but the state electorate is not in a position to believe Siddaramaiah's words, he said.

Response for Jan Sankalp Yatra

Bommai said BJP started its third leg of Jan Sankalp Yatra from the Malenadu region.

The party plans to take this Yatra to every assembly segment. The response for this yatra has been tremendous. The Jan Sankalp Yatra will become Vijay Sankalp Yatra, he added.