G Virat Singh/ENS

Bangalore, Jun 12: A farmer’s death in police firing may be embarrassing for Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who took oath in the name of farmers, but that irony cannot hide the fact that more farmers were killed in police firings during the Congress rule and that farmers were driven to suicide when a self-declared ‘poor farmer’(H.D. Deve Gowda) ruled the state through remote control.

In less than two weeks of coming to power in Karnataka, the BJP has to own the responsibility for the police firing that killed one person in Haveri.

And expectedly, the issue is being politicised, confirming that farmers in this country continue to be cannon fodder for politicians who swear by them but have no real concern for their plight.

Farmers agitating in Dharwad and Haveri districts over improper fertiliser distribution and non-availability of seeds turned violent, leading to the firing.

According to Yeddyurappa, it is a political conspiracy to tarnish the image of the BJP government. Agriculture Minister Ravindranath blames the failure of the administration during the Governor’s rule for the state of affairs today.

According to him, excess fertiliser use by some farmers caused shortage.What is expected from the new government is a solution to the problem which, according to the farmers, is genuine.

The government should be concerned more about the severity of the problem than trying to find out who are behind the agitation and violence.

It cannot, however, be denied that the scarcity of fertiliser and certified seeds has not been raised by the farmers, their organisations or any of the political parties before the new chief minister took oath.

This speaks volumes for the way political parties, instead of taking up people’s issues during elections, work up emotions on matters like naming airports or status of language and appeal to caste and religion.

This makes BSY’s charge of political motive behind the agitation appear plausible. It is also a fact that fertiliser and seed requirements are to be estimated in advance. The agriculture department has to project this long before the sowing season starts.

The state agriculture department has a public explanation on these points. The department and also agriculture universities are supposed to have extension departments to educate farmers on proper farm practices, especially optimum use of fertilisers.

And yet, excess use of fertilisers by big farmers does take place, leading to shortages. It may be too much to expect from the new government to ensure adequate supply of seeds and fertilisers immediately after assuming power.

But the sowing operations have started with the onset of monsoon that was scheduled just two-three days after the new government came to power. The new government should have initiated immediate steps in this regard.

The government should have given a serious thought as the farmers of Davanagere were the first to start the agitation over the fertiliser issue. Before alleging political conspiracy, Yeddyurappa should have met the agitating farmers before they turned violent. I

nstead, he visited them after one person was killed. He should have given priority to the issue instead of effecting a major reshuffle of 64 IAS officers (and, of course, visiting astrologers, mutts and temples).

Those trying to blame the new government for firing on farmers should not forget that as many as 136 farmers died in police firings during the regime of Congress chief minister R Gundu Rao.

Had BSY shown concern to the farmers little earlier, the incidents of setting buses and shops on fire could have been prevented.

He should have had discussions with the leaders of farmers’ associations to earn the confidence of the farmers.