BJP urges Karnataka govt to file criminal case against companies supplying fake seeds fertilisers

    Bengaluru, Jul 27 (PTI) Accusing the ruling Congress of 'failing' Karnataka, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Sunday urged the Siddaramaiah-led government to file a criminal case and take strict action against companies that are supplying fake seeds and fertilisers to farmers.
    He said a police vigilance team should be formed to take strict action against the networks that cheat farmers.
    Vijayendra later also said that BJP's farmers' wing will hold a state-wide protest on Monday, as he accused the state government of creating "artificial shortage" of urea in various parts of the state because of its "mismanagement", leading to "panic" among farmers. He also alleged that brokers and traders hold stocks.
    The BJP chief was responding to reports about fake seeds and fertilisers being supplied to farmers in some parts of the state, and protests by farmers in various places alleging a shortage in the supply of urea.
    "The efforts to trouble the food-providing farmers and exploit them within the system have been ongoing for a long time. Companies supplying fertilizers and seeds are engaging in the despicable act of sabotaging agricultural activities by providing fake seeds to the enthusiastic farming community that is expecting a good harvest in the backdrop of a promising monsoon this time," Vijayendra said.
    "I urge the government to file a criminal case against such companies in this regard and take strict action, and also to take all necessary measures to ensure that the farming community gets quality seeds and necessary fertilizers in a timely manner," he said in a post on 'X'.
    Stating that it should be the government's top priority to ensure that the farming community, which is the largest human resource of the country and who live by trusting nature, does not face any problems, Vijayendra said, in this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, along with agricultural incentive schemes, has taken precautionary measures to protect farmers.
    "The state government too needs to take committed steps in this regard, so that the lives of farmers are not affected," he said.
    To strengthen the Agriculture Department and to take strict action against the networks that cheat farmers, a police vigilance team should be formed, the BJP leader said, adding the hashtag "CongressFailsKarnataka".
    "This time, mother nature has embraced the farmers through a good monsoon, I urge the government to take all possible precautionary measures to thwart any fraudulent attempts that may disrupt the farmers from enjoying its benefits," he said.
    Later speaking to reporters here, Vijayendra said, monsoon started early and even though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy were aware, the proper stocking and timely supply of fertilisers to various districts were not ensured, leading to shortage.
    Alleging that an artificial shortage has been created despite the central government having given sufficient quantities of urea to the state, he said, more than 8,70,000 metric tonnes of urea have been received by Karnataka from the centre, but only about 5, 30,000 metric tonnes is available in the market.
    "What about the rest? The fear is that somewhere there is some kind of hand-in-glove. Brokers and traders are keeping the stocks; it has to be released.
    The state government is trying to create an artificial shortage. This will not help farmers and that's the reason farmers are upset," he said, and urged the Agriculture Minister to take the matter seriously and come to the rescue of farmers.
    Suggesting that blaming the central government will not serve the purpose, Vijayendra said, the state government, its Chief Minister and Ministers have been doing this for 2.5 years whenever there is a crisis.
    Central government has given sufficient urea to Karnataka, but the issue is no proper distribution has been ensured by the state government to various districts, and due to its mismanagement an artificial shortage has been created, he said, "state government has also not planned for sufficient buffer stocks as done in the past when BJP was in power, this is the failure of the state government."
    BJP's farmers wing is holding a statewide protest on Monday, he said, adding that this is not for any political reasons, but to stand with the farmers. "The government has to take this very seriously. In more than ten districts farmers protested yesterday, a panic has been created among farmers due to shortage of urea," he added.
    Targeting the Congress government, citing media reports about farmers' protest against urea shortage, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka said, the government should have been alert and paid attention towards ensuring storage of necessary amount of fertilizer and its timely distribution, when the monsoon arrived a month in advance this time.
    Instead, those in the government completely neglected the farmers in the heat of factional fights for power or chair, Ashoka said in a post on 'X'. "The curse of the farmers will affect this Congress government," he added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)