Gowda turns table on BJP Government over fertilizer shortage in Karnataka

Turning the tables on the BJP Government in Karnataka over the scarcity of fertilizers plaguing the state, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda claimed that the State Government had received sufficient stock of the fertilizer from the Federal Government, but had miserably failed to distribute the same to the farmers.

Quoting from figures he had obtained from the Federal Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Gowda told reporters that there is there no shortfall in supply of fertilizers to Karnataka as claimed by the BJP Government. “In fact, the State Government had received much more than the requirement this month and failed to distribute the same to the farmers, who are running from pillar to post for fertilizers”, he said.

“As per the latest figures, the state has unsold stock of Urea, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Murate of Phosphate (MAP) and complex fertilizers”, Gowda said reeling out figures he had obtained from the Federal Government.

The former Prime Minister also sought to nail Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s statement that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre was showing “step-motherly” attitude towards non-Congress Government in the matter of fertilizer allocation by claiming that substantial quantity of fertilizer had also been released to Gujarat, where the BJP is ruling.

The scarcity of fertilizers in Karnataka has arisen out of the “bungling” by the BJP Government he said and cautioned the ruling party of the “friction” that could arise between the Federal and State Government due to such “false charges”.
Instead of misleading the people of the state over the fertilizer issue, the State Government should distribute the available stock to the needy farmers, Gowda said.