Congress to take to streets on fertiliser issue: Kharge

Bangalore, June 19 (UNI) Congress in Karnataka today threatened to intensify its agitation in protest against shortage of fertiliser supply if the BJP government failed to take immediate steps to solve problems faced by the farmers in the State.

Talking to newsmen here, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge said the Government's 'inefficiency' in handling the fertiliser and seed issue had already claimed three lives since yesterday. If it continued to show 'lethargy' on the issue there will no option left to launch state-wide agitation.

The Opposition leader in the Assembly said that the government should have collected details of crop pattern and quantum of fertiliser needed for the season. "Just giving statements will not solve the problem because farmers are not dependent on statements but on the availability of fertiliser and seeds as state has received widespread rainfall," he said.

He said that Congress Legislative Party (CLP) would meet on June 22 to discuss the fertiliser and Padmapriya suicide issue and finalise plan 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 extreme step and face the situation boldly.

UNI MSP RS HVB2000