Opposition demands joint house committee on farm crisis

Bangalore, June 23 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Mallikarjun Kharge today demanded setting up of a joint House Committee on the farm crisis in the wake of severe shortage of fertilizers and seeds.

Initiating a debate on the adjournment motion under rule 69 in the Karnataka Assembly which began its four-day session today, he said the crisis had led to the recent police firing on agitating farmers and a spate of farmer suicides in the state.

He said the state was reeling under the farm crisis from the day the BJP government took oath in the name of farmers. It had completely failed in addressing the issues of the farming community, he alleged.

Stating that the government had no moral right to remain in power as it indulged in misleading the farmers and the people of the state, he said that it was not correct to blame the Centre for the shortage of fertilizers as the supply was as per schedule.

He also condemned the government's failure in proper administration of the distribution of the fertilizers and seeds to the farmers, who were in dire need of them for accelerating the sowing activities in the wake of the early onset of monsoon.

Mr Kharge demanded the House Committee to probe the recent developments including the police firing in Haveri, shortage of seeds and fertilizers, and eleven suicides of farmers in the last 23 days.

Earlier, the opposition led by Mr Kharge moved the adjournment motion on the farm crisis under rule 60 to take up the debate keeping aside all other issues of the agenda of the day.

Janata Dal(S) floor leader H D Kumaraswamy seconded the move for the debate under rule 60, saying that the farmers were facing a very grim situation.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar said that the short session was called mainly in connection the with the motion of thanks on the Governor's address and the debate on the issue could be taken up after receiving the report of the judicial inquiry ordered into the police firing incident.

Speaker Jagadish Shettar allowed the discussion under rule 69.

The Opposition without any further debate on the ruling of the Speaker began the discussion on the issue.

UNI SIV RS SKB1627