Government committed to providing seven hours of continuous power supply to farmers: KJ George
Bengaluru: Minister for Energy Department, KJ Geroge on Friday announced that the state government is committed to providing seven hours of continuous power supply output in a day to farmers, and that the government is expediting works related to solarization of agricultural feeders.
Speaking after visiting the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Area Congress office on Queen’s Road in Bengaluru and receiving a petition from party leaders and workers, the minister said steps are being taken to provide daytime power supply to farmers by solarising substations that supply electricity to the agriculture sector under the Kusum-C scheme. He said the initiative aims to generate 2,500 MW of solar power.
George said the state is also providing solar pump sets under the Kusum-B scheme with a subsidy of up to 80 per cent, which he described as the highest in the country.
Calling it a major initiative by the Energy Department for the agriculture sector, he said, “the department is contributing significantly to the state’s development by ensuring reliable electricity supply to both the public and farmers.”
He further said that, “under the Gruha Jyoti scheme, up to 200 units of free electricity are being provided to domestic consumers, benefiting around 1.65 crore families across the state. The department is working to utilise available opportunities to improve farmers’ prosperity.”
By integrating solar energy into agricultural power supply, pressure on power infrastructure is being reduced and power theft is being curbed, the minister said, adding that the state has made progress in power generation while maintaining reliable transmission.
Referring to the government’s guarantee schemes, George said these programmes have strengthened the financial position of people.
He said the government allocated Rs 55,000 crore for guarantee schemes last year, through which families are receiving benefits worth about Rs 5,000 per month.
He claimed that Karnataka has emerged as number one in the country in terms of per capita income. At the same time, he alleged that despite the state contributing nearly Rs 4 lakh crore in taxes, it receives only about Rs 60,000 crore in return from the Centre, accusing the Union government of hindering the state’s development.
Minister slams BJP for “pseudo-patriotism.”
George also criticised the BJP, alleging that its leaders indulge in what he termed “pseudo-patriotism.”
He said former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru came from a wealthy family but still went to prison along with Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle, and claimed that no BJP leader had made similar sacrifices for the country.
He said the Congress party’s contributions have played a key role in the nation’s development, while accusing the BJP of limiting itself to speeches during elections.
Bengaluru North Division president Wajid, Central Division president Nandakumar, KPCC media secretary Deepak Thimmaiah, S. Manohar, and leaders and workers from the Sarvajnanagar constituency were present on the occasion.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
