BJP too offers 3 pc loans to artisans, farmers

Chitradurga, Apr 11 (UNI) BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa today said that the party would come out with its election manifesto offering three per cent loans to farmers and artisans within a few days.

Speaking to reporters here he said BJP was committed to uplift of the downtrodden and it would extend old age pensions under Sandhya Suraksha Yogana to more people and Widow pension to even those woman who had children.

"We will offer what we can give in reality and don't make false promises. We will write off all the unpaid power bills of 16,000 pump sets owned by poor farmers," he said.

On JD(S) supremo Mr Gowda's remarks that non party could form the government in Karntaka without his party's support, Mr Yeddyurappa said the former Prime Minister had betrayed both Congress and the BJP and his true colour was already known.

"Will anybody touch the JD(S) anymore. Anyway Mr Gowda's party will lose this election badly and will be out of picture once the elections are over," he claimed.

The BJP leader denied that there was any different of opinion between him and party General Secretary Anant Kumar. "There is no such problem. We are working with unison and our only focus is to bring BJP to power. These are based on unfounded media reports," he said.

Later speaking at a SC/ST conclave at his home town Shikaripur in Shimoga district, Mr Yeddyurappa said if voted to power, the BJP would regularise government land cultivated by poor farmers under 'bagar hukum' and will not oust a single tribal or other family living in forest areas.

"When Congress ruled the state and tried to vacate poor people cultivating forest land here. Then I went on a padayatra from Shikaripur to Shimoga protesting the move and stalled it. BJP will stand by the oppressed class and give them what they need," he assured.

He said during the 20-month rule with its coalition partner JD(S), the BJP had built 350 SC hostels and 50 Murarji Residential Schools which was his party's concept.

UNI XR RS SKB1931