K'taka Dy CM assures help to sugarcane growers

Gulbarga, Apr 12 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today assured the crisis-ridden sugarcane growers that the Government would take all steps to help them.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the Government would pass orders to revoke the purchase tax of Rs 65 per quintal of sugarcane and give the same to the farmer.

It may be recalled here that nine vexed farmers had attempted to commit suicide yesterday in front of Government officials as Renuka Sugars Factory had not bought their stock. This prompted the Government to convene a meeting to announce sops for the farmers.

Referring to former Prime Minister and JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda's criticism for allocating funds to mutts, Mr Yediyurappa justified it and said the mutts were carrying out yeoman service to the society.

Describing Infosys Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy's remarks on playing the national anthem at a President function as ''unfortunate'', he condemned it as it showed disrespect to the anthem.

UNI