Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Janardhan Poojary today hit out at opposition BJP and JD-S in Karnataka, saying they were behind the "murder complaint" filed against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, holding him responsible for farmers' suicides.
Mandya Raita Sangha chief G Shankar had filed a police complaint at Maddur in Mandya district yesterday, seeking to register a case against the Chief Minister for "murder" in the wake of increasing number of farmers' suicides.
The complaint said farmers had taken the extreme step due to the burden of loans as they were not given support price for crops. The Chief Minister was directly responsible for the plight of farmers, the complaint said.
Addressing a press meet here, Poojary said the complainant had crossed limits and it was not tolerable. Former Chief Ministers Yeddyurappa and H D Kumaraswamy might have instigated him, he said.
Poojary said Siddaramaiah was well aware of the grievances of farmers and had waived loans to the tune of Rs 22,000 crore. The government had also initiated several irrigation projects and provided subsidy to milk producers and free rice to the poor.
Criticising the Opposition for politicising the farmers' issue, Poojary said MPs of BJP and JD-S had not raised any voice for the farmers' cause in Parliament.
Instead of criticising the state government, the Opposition should join the ruling Congress to lead a delegation to the Prime Minister seeking waiver of farm loans, he said.
Meanwhile, BJP activists staged a protest before the Deputy Commissioner's office here today in protest against the government's "failure" to prevent farmers' suicides. Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel led the protestors.
Two farmers had allegedly committed suicide in Mandya within a span of the last one week. Another suicide was reported from Mysuru district, according to the complaint filed in Mandya.
