From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 31: After trying to put the BJP government headed by chief minister B S Yediyurappa in a spot over the Covid vaccine issue by offering to take up the vaccination drive from the Congress party by investing Rs 100 crore, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, DK Shivakumar has reached out to the farmers of Hubli-Dharwad on Monday to resolve their issues at a time when the government is doing little to help them.

“Our farmers are struggling every day for every small thing in this hour of crisis. Their vegetables, fruits and other produce is rotting as they get just a two-hour window between 6 to 8 am to sell them which is too little time for them,” Shivakumar said addressing the media at Navalur village in Dharwad.

“The sowing season has started and farmers do not have fertilisers, seeds and DAP. Even MSP is not assured. Karnataka’s Byadgi Chilli is amongst the best in the country but our farmers are unable to sell it,” Shivakumar said.

“Last year, the Congress party workers helped the farmers by buying their farm produce across the state wherever possible and also assisted them financially. Today also, I have come to meet the farmers, listen to their grievances and help them in any which way possible,” Shivakumar said criticising the government that it is more interested in working for the interest of the liquor lobby than farmers.

“The government is giving permission to liquor sellers till evening but they are not giving enough time to farmers to sell their produce. This clearly shows who this government empathises with,” Shivakumar said.

The KPCC chief has also requested the chief minister, chief secretary and the agriculture department officials to pay heed to the problems and concerns of farmers and solve them.

He asked the government to reach out to farmers in these hard times rather than sitting in the comfort of their plush bungalows and offices in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar has also requested the government to increase the pandemic relief package from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre for vegetable and flower growing farmers.

The State Congress chief said the pandemic has devastated the agrarian economy and the government needs to do much more to help the farming community.

KPCC Chief helps Mandya woman

Shivakumar helped Mandya district-based woman Shashikala Manjunath in getting her husband’s body released who succumbed to Covid at a private hospital in Hyderabad.

Shashikala had reached out to Shivakumar through Twitter for help as a private hospital had refused to release the body of Shashikala’s husband who could manage to pay just Rs 2 lac against the inflated bill of Rs 7.5 lac.

Turning to action at Shashikala’s request, the KPCC chief Shivakumar called Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to intervene and resolve the case.

“I request Telangana CM KCR Garu to kindly help the family of Shashikala Manjunath from Mandya, whose husband died at Medicover Hospital. She informs me the hospital isn’t releasing his body as she has been able to pay only 2 lac out of the 7.5 lac bill,” Shivakumar said in a tweet.

Taking prompt action, the Telangana chief minister’s son KT Rama Rao immediately swung into action and directed health department officials to get in touch with the private hospital and resolve the case.

“Shivakumar Garu will take care immediately if you can pass on her contact information. KTR Office will get in touch with the hospital immediately,” KT Rama Rao said responding to Shivakumar’s tweet.

Karnataka Youth Congress activists also rushed to Hyderabad to assist Shashikala and get the matter resolved.

The KPCC chief had launched a social media based helpline last week where he had committed to resolving peoples’ grievances who were being fleeced by private hospitals during the pandemic.

Shivakumar’s office informed that hundreds of people have already reached out to Shivakumar and most of the cases have already been resolved.

Nalapad buys over a tonne of vegetables from farmers

State Youth Congress leader Mohammad Haris Nalapad came to the rescue of Navalur based farming community on Monday as he bought over a tonne of fresh vegetables from farmers who had failed to sell their produce in the market due to the government’s unplanned restrictions.

“During our visit to the farms in Navlaur, my heart went out to the farmers after hearing their grave hardships in these Covid times. Upon instructions by KPCC president, D K Shivakumar sir, I bought 2,000 Kg each of beetroot, carrots, chillies and 400 Kg tomatoes,” Nalapad said in a tweet.

Nalapad is accompanying Shivakumar on his two-day tour to Hubli-Dharwad and Haveri districts to reach out to farmers suffering because of the pandemic.

“Karnataka farming community is in deep crisis and government is asleep unbothered of their concerns and miseries. There is no planning to ensure the procurement of farmers’ produce. They are given just a two-hour window between 6 to 8 am which is too little to sell their crop,” Nalapad said.

He asserted that Youth Congress volunteers and Karnataka Congress will go all out to help the farming community in this hour of crisis.

“The Covid relief of Rs 4,000 per acre being provided by the government to farmers is insufficient and people have not even received the meagre amount. No government official is visiting them to gauge their condition,” Nalapad said appealing to the chief minister to take note of the situation and take prompt action to safeguard the interests of the farming community.