Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jan 16: Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa hit out at chief minister Siddaramaiah saying that he has failed to address the issue of farmer suicides properly.

Yeddyurappa was speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Friday, January 15. He said that the chief minister has completely failed to come to the rescue of distressed farmers.

Yeddyurappa stated that the chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, has not mobilised the resources for development works of the state. He demanded that the CM should come out with a white paper on the state’s finances. "Development works have come to a standstill in the state." he said.

"More than a 1,000 farmers have committed suicide in the last year. Major reservoirs of the state are empty and there is shortage of drinking water and fodder for livestock. Migration of labourers has begun. The chief minister is in deep slumber instead of being responsive to these problems,” he added.

"Though as many as nine states in the country have been facing severe drought, the central government released Rs 1,540 crore as drought relief to Karnataka on a priority basis. But the state government has not released money yet to the farmers in distress. Siddaramaiah should be reviewing development programmes on a monthly basis. He claims his government is pro-Ahinda but not even 40 per cent of the funds meant for SC/ST development have been spent.” Yeddyurappa opined.