Cong threatens to intensify agitations

Bangalore, Jun 19 (UNI) Congress in Karnataka today threatened to intensify its agitations against shortage of fertilisers if the BJP Government failed to solve the problems faced by farmers in the state.

Talking to reporters here, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge alleged that the new government's ''inefficiency'' in handling the fertiliser and seed issues had already claimed three lives since yesterday. If it continued to show 'lethargy' on the issue there would be no option left other than launching state-wide agitation.

The Opposition leader in the Assembly said that the Government should have collected details of crop pattern and quantum of fertilisers needed for the season. ''Just giving statements will not solve the problem as farmers are not dependent on statements but on the availability of fertiliser and seeds,'' he said.

He said that the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) would meet on June 22 to discuss the fertiliser and Padmapriya suicide issues and also to finalise plans to take the Government to task when the Legislative Session begins on June 23.

He alleged that officials were showing negligence in distributing compensation to families of farmers who had committed suicide.

He appealed to the farmers not to take the extreme step and face the situation boldly.

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