CM Siddaramaiah accuses BJP of 'misinformation' on urea shortage in Karnataka
Mandya (Karnataka), Jul 28 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday accused the BJP of "misinformation" on urea, and pointed fingers at the saffron party-led government at the Centre for inadequate supplies.
Noting that he had written to the union government demanding immediate supply of fertilizer to the state, citing increase in acreage under sowing due to early monsoon, he urged the BJP leaders to speak to the union minister and ensure supplies, instead of holding agitation.
Speaking at a mega convention organised by the Karnataka government in Maddur of Mandya district, where development works were inaugurated and foundation stones were laid, the CM asserted that the Congress will come back to power in the state in the 2028 Assembly polls.
"The BJP indulges in misinformation...there is no shortage of fertilizers, but the central government has not been able to supply the required quantity of fertilizers," Siddaramaiah said.
He said the Centre should have supplied 6,80,655 MT of urea to the state, but they had supplied only 5,16,959 MT.
"I have written to the Centre. This time, the monsoon started early. Farmers have increased sowing acreage for which fertilizer is required and I have urged the Centre to supply," he added.
The BJP Kisan Morcha (farmers' wing) on Monday began its week-long statewide protest accusing the state government of creating "artificial shortage" of urea in various parts of Karnataka because of its "mismanagement", which has led to "panic" among farmers. The party also alleged brokers and traders of holding stocks.
Accusing the BJP of using the urea shortage issue for politics, the CM said, "Should we learn a lesson from BJP or B Y Vijayendra (state BJP President)? When his father B S Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister, as fertilizers and seeds were not supplied on time, farmers had held protests, which led to Golibar, killing two farmers. They (BJP) should be ashamed. They had in the past killed two farmers."
He further claimed that there is no supply of urea and other fertilizers like DAP (Diammonium phosphate) in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. It is the central government's responsibility to supply fertilizer. The state government job is only to distribute it, Siddaramaiah said.
"They (BJP) are saying they will hold an agitation in the state. Instead of doing politics, BJP leaders -- Vijayendra, R Ashoka and MPs should go to Union Minister J P Nadda and get fertilizer to the state," he said, noting that it has been a couple of days since he wrote a letter to the central minister, but still there is no response to it, nor there is any supply of fertilizer.
Despite the BJP's political tactics in the 2028 Assembly polls, the Congress will win, the CM asserted, and said, "In Maddur, Congress MLA K M Uday will win once again."
"I don't know what happened in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. H D Kumaraswamy (of JD(S)) won from the Mandya Parliamentary seat. He is now holding an important Ministry in the union government. Let him ensure supply of fertiliser to Karnataka. Instead they (opposition BJP and JDS) want to hold agitation. This drama... won't go on for long," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, ruling Congress MLAs and ministers were present at the event.
Noting that his government has launched development works worth over Rs 1,146 crore in a single day, Siddaramaiah slammed the BJP for spreading false information for the sake of politics that the government has no money. If there is no money, would it have been possible to launch development works worth crores of rupees?
In two years, the Congress government has done a lot of development work. "There is no evidence for any development work in the four years of the BJP government's tenure," the CM said.
"The BJP's other name is lies, and lies is the family deity of BJP people," he said.
The CM highlighted his government's efforts in restarting the Mandya Sugar Factory, starting agriculture college in Mandya, and grants released for these purposes.
Asserting that during both tenures of his administration (2013-18 and from 2023 till now), he worked for poor, Dalits, backward classes, minorities, woman and labourers, and has given various programmes for their welfare, the CM said, "Our intention is to eradicate inequality, caste and class system, and establish a system, where there is equal opportunity for all".
With this in mind, five guarantee schemes are being implemented at the cost of about Rs 55,000 crore per year. The government is ensuring that money under these schemes directly reaches the accounts of the beneficiaries, without any middleman, he said.
"The per capita income has increased in the state because of this. Karnataka has recorded the highest per capita income in India today.....also women have become self-reliant because of our guarantee schemes," he added.
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Always stood by CM, will continue to do so in future, says Dy CM Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Seeking to junk claims of power tussle in the state, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday asserted that he has always stood by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and will continue to do so in future as well.
He said it is the party high command which decides leadership matters and the backing of certain number of MLAs could not decide anything.
During a discussion in the Karnataka Assembly, opposition leader R Ashoka said Shivakumar often spoke about the right time.
"Shivakumar says time will give the answer. We will get relief if he discloses which time he is talking about," Ashoka said.
The BJP leader said he has heard from Shivakumar’s camp that there are at least 56 MLAs to support the deputy chief minister.
"When I asked a person from Chief Minister’s camp he said every morning these 56 people go to Shivakumar’s camp and return to the CM’s camp by the evening. Labour Minister Santosh Lad is from the same category," Ashoka claimed. He added that Shivakumar was in a dilemma over whom to trust.
Lad took exception to Ashoka's statement and rejected being the follower of a particular camp, and retorted saying that the BJP is an "expert" in bringing down governments.
Ashoka said the BJP will never topple the government and hinted that the power tussle would bring down the Congress regime in the state.
He said Shivakumar should clear the air because for the past month, his speeches, statements, and social media posts have been conveying hundreds of meaning, thereby adding confusion.
Replying, the Deputy CM said, his strength is "139 MLAs" including the chief minister.
Further, the deputy chief minister said: "Siddaramaiah is also with me 100 per cent. There is no question on it. We both are together, working to fulfill the promises made to the people of Karnataka. We are marching in that direction and will continue to do so in future as well. There should not be any confusion."
He asserted that he always stood by Siddaramaiah during crisis and will do so in future. "He (Siddaramaiah) will also stand by me,” the Deputy CM said.
On his social media post, he said: "Decisions are not taken based on the number but it is the party leadership which decides. It is applies to both yours and my party."
The BJP replaced a number of chief ministers, MLAs were also changed and a major cabinet reshuffle happened, he added.
