Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya (SP)

Mandya, Apr 1: BJP national president, Amit Shah, said that the BJP government at the centre headed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been laying special emphasis on organic methods of farming.

He was speaking to organic farmers and women activists of cooperative movement who had come together at Sir M Visvesvaraya stadium here on Saturday March 31 for a programme of interaction. This programme was held by BJP.

Only a handful of farmers had taken part in the said programme. A number of chairs in the front row opposite the dais too were lying empty, leaving the local BJP leaders red-faced.

Sources said that Amit Shah was livid at BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa over the poor turnout. Moreover, the programme did not start on time, leaving the farmers upset, it is said. According to sources, only 700 farmers attended the event where thousands were expected. An angry Shah chose not to interact with farmers and instead delivered a 20-minute long speech.

In his address, Shah said that compared to the budgetary allocation made by the previous UPA regime at the centre for organic and traditional methods of cultivation, the current government had made 75 percent more allocation. "Our country happens to be the only country with the highest coverage under organic farming. This is backed by history dating back to thousands of years" he claimed. He said that India had introduced organic and traditional methods of cultivation to the world but westerners used to make fun of this system. But this system has now emerged as the most sought after scientific system of cultivation, he pointed out.

Shah said that during the three and half years it has been in office, Narendra Modi-led central government has brought 7.5 lac acres of land additionally under traditional cultivation. "The central government is giving priority to bring hilly terrrain inhabited by aborigines and tribals into organic cultivation. We have taken steps to convert Sikkim into a 100 percent organic farming state," he informed.

State BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, said that when he was the chief minister, organic cultivation awareness conventions had been held in all the districts, and that this is being pursued even ow. He accused Siddaramaiah-led state government of failing to properly implement 'Bhaagyalaxmi' scheme introduced by his government, which would have benefitted about 18 lac girls. He exuded confidence that pro-farmer BJP government will rise to power again in the state and that BJP will be giving impetus to organic farming and irrigation projects if voted to power.

Yeddyurappa felt that the Supreme Court verdict on sharing Cauvery river water is favourable for Karnataka and that it helps to end long-pending tussle between two states.

Union minister, Ananth Kumar, state BJP in-charge, Muraleedhar Rao, MLA, C T Ravi, former deputy chief minister R Ashok, and other leaders were present.