by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Farmers' files are kept pending for months and then they go back just as they came to the IAS babu. However, it is amazing other files move in the speed of an Olympic sprinter, reach the Cabinet which okays them the same day.

• Obviously, babus know which side of the bread is buttered!

Bangalore, Apr 13: In a significant development, former Minister H.D. Revanna today launched a scathing attack against the State Government headed by his brother H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Addressing media persons here today, he alleged that the Government had totally neglected the farmers. "Files relating to them do not see the light of the day," he criticised.

Revanna alleged that the officers sit on the files, relating to farmers, sent to them and return them after six months without taking any decision. Instead, other files move very fast in one day through the officialdom and get the Cabinet approval the same evening.

"Why such a discrimination against the farmers?" Revanna thundered.

Observing that though the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister were doing good job, the officers were not co-operating with them.

"There are evil forces behind this apathy towards farmers. The Government should expose such forces and take severe action against the officials," Revanna urged.

He recalled that he had written two letters to the former Finance Minister drawing his attention towards conspiracy of anti-farmer officers.

"However, he neither took action nor replied to me," Revanna alleged.

He also disclosed that after the new Government took over, he wrote two letters to both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on the same issue.

"I am yet to get replies from them," he added.

"If it goes on unchecked, what would be the fate of the Government?" he asked.

It may be recalled here that Revanna had taken the Government to task in the Assembly itself recently on policy matters drawing applause from the Opposition party members.