Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over its handling of sugarcane farmers’ demand for fair prices, accusing it of citing a shortage of funds instead of addressing their concerns.
In a post on social media platform X, Ashoka questioned Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s reported remark, “How can we pay if there is no money in the exchequer?” He described the statement as an admission of the government’s financial difficulties.
Ashoka alleged that while the government was spending money on guarantee schemes, guarantee implementation committees and achievement conventions, it had failed to provide relief to sugarcane farmers demanding fair prices for their produce.
He said farmers who had invested considerable time and money in cultivation were facing financial distress, crop losses and mounting debts. Instead of resolving their grievances, the government was allegedly expressing helplessness over its financial position, he added.
The BJP leader also accused the state government of mismanaging public finances and blaming the Centre for various problems.
Urging the government to act, Ashoka called on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to address the hardships faced by farmers. He warned that public anger could intensify if immediate solutions were not provided.
Ashoka further demanded that the chief minister step down if the government was unable to protect farmers’ interests.
The remarks form part of the BJP leader’s criticism of the Congress government amid the ongoing demand by sugarcane farmers for fair remuneration. The allegations regarding financial mismanagement and the government’s handling of farmers’ concerns were made by Ashoka in his social media post.
