Farmers suicide toll reaches 12 in Karnataka

The continuing scarcity of fertilizers in Karnataka claimed the life of one more farmer in Chikmagalur yesterday, taking the total number of farmers committing suicide in the state since the BJP Government assumed power last month to twelve.

Farmers are reported to have committed suicide in Gulbarga, Dharwad, Koppal, Shimoga, Hassan, Bagalkot and Davangere districts of the State due to a severe scarcity of fertilizers. Farmers are ending their lives by either consuming pesticides or hanging themselves.

Farmers in various parts of the state have been protesting against the lack of supply of fertilizers, which are essential at the time of sowing a crop during monsoon. Earlier this month, a farmer was killed when a protest against shortage of fertilizers turned ugly, leading to police opening fire.

The spate of suicides in the state has put Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who incidentally took oath in the name of farmers, in an embarrassing situation.

But, Yeddyurappa is blaming the Federal Government for the scarcity of fertilizers in the state. “The Centre has released only 40 per cent of the stock we had sought. This the root cause of the scarcity. Our Government has just taken over. Give us some time”, he said.

Yeddyurappa also accused the Opposition Congress and JD (S) of “politicizing” farmers’ suicides.

But, the Government is all set to be hauled over coals during the Karnataka Legislature session scheduled to begin in Bangalore on Monday with the Opposition Congress and JD (S) planning to raise the farmers’ suicides and police firing on farmers.

“Instead of finding a solution to the crisis, the Chief Minister is making irresponsible statements like blaming the Central Government and Opposition parties”, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly M Mallikarjun Kharge said.

“How can they make the Central Government and Opposition parties a scapegoat ?’, Kharge sought to know.