PM, ministers are CEOs of corporate companies: Dr SiddanaGouda Patil
5th May Literary Fest
Dharwad, May 27: Dr SiddanaGouda Patil alleged that the Prime Minister and Ministers of the country have been working as the CEOs of the corporate companies.
He was speaking on “power and farmers movements” at a two-day 5th May Literary Fest organized by the Ladayi Publication of Gadag, Chittara Balaga of Dharwad and Kavi Publication at Papu Auditorium here on Sunday.
Earlier, people believed that agriculture is for producing food grains and not for business. “Gandhi had divided the land for food, livestock and benefits of the state and he had listed the land for commercial usage in the last, if it is inevitable. But we have forgotten this. What the communists were doing as soon as they come to power was controlling the wars and nationalizing the land. Because they wanted that everybody should get the land”, he added.
Kayyur farmers movement, Kagodu Satyagraha, Land Reforms Act implemented in 1960, Telangana farmers movement and others were happened for the land. Earlier, those movements were held for ownership of land. But later, the farmers movements led by Prof Nanjundaswamy were held for protecting farmers culture and other rights. Corporate companies have been selling coriander leaves in their malls. Now, small farmers have to compete with these companies. Agriculture marketing system has pushed the small farmers on to the streets, he said.
Corporate companies have been purchasing the land for big amount or get the lease of the land for more than 15 years. They use more chemical fertilizer and pesticide and destroy the fertility of the land. In future, the farmers could not grow any crops in that land, he said.
It is unfortunate that the cinema stars and cricket players who have been promoting Coco Cola, Pepsi and other soft drinks have become the cultural ambassadors of the country. They would not promote any food grains grown by the farmers. If all the farmers organizations failed to protest such developments together, the entire land would the property of the corporate companies. Now, the farmers at a critical situation, he expressed concerns.
Activists BS Soppin and others were present.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP hatching Op Lotus, alleges Shivakumar as 2 held for trying to bribe Odisha Cong MLAs
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people were arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs, who are staying in a resort near here, as part of BJP's "Operation Lotus," Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar claimed on Sunday.
He alleged that the BJP has planned "Operation Lotus'" and was offering Rs five crore to each Odisha MLAs, who were flown here ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls in that state.
Eight MLAs, along with some other Odisha Congress unit office bearers are camping in the resort.
They have been flown to Bengaluru with apprehensions of horse trading during the Rajya Sabha elections in favour of ruling BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate.
ALSO READ: Environment ministry endorses names of 10-member expert committee set up to define Aravalli hills
Shivakumar, also Congress' Karnataka chief, said two persons were apprehended at the private resort for attempting to buy over Odisha Congress MLAs.
"Four people have come. One local person named Suresh helped them; they contacted him (an MLA) online. In the morning they picked up our MLA. Our MLA told us that they offered Rs five crore for each vote. He (Congress MLA) said he is not for horse-trading," Shivakumar told reporters.
"The cheque and everything should be seized. A complaint will be filed at the police station. After that, whatever legal action is required will be taken," he added.
Shivakumar said those caught have accepted that they came for the "same purpose".
"They have admitted it and the process is on to trace others. This is the great Operation Lotus carried out by BJP friends in Karnataka," the DCM said.
Operation Lotus is a term used by Congress to claim about attempts to topple a non-BJP government by the BJP whose party symbol is lotus. It also involves getting the votes on MLAs from other parties for their Rajya Sabha candidate.
According to a Congress source, one of the persons involved in the horse trading is a defeated Lok Sabha candidate.
A source shared the photograph and blank cheques as well.
"They tried to negotiate with the Congress MLA by offering a blank cheque.
Both have been caught and handed over to the Bidadi police," the source said.
Police sources said that they have been arrested.
According to Congress sources, the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha will take place on Monday. The BJP has fielded one more candidate, which raised apprehensions of horse-trading.
Congress and the Biju Janata Dal have fielded a candidate.
