JD(S) opposes BJP's proposal for all-party delegation to Delhi

Bangalore, Jul 1 (UNI) The JD(S) has opposed the BJP government's appeal in Karnataka to join an all-party delegation to Delhi to press the Centre for providing sufficient chemical fertilisers.

Speaking to reporters here today, JD(S) State Unit president Merajuddin Patel said he would leave for Delhi tomorrow and meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to appraise them about the problems due to the shortage of fertilisers and take up other related matters with.

''We decided against joining a joint-delegation as the BJP leaders cannot be relied upon. They are giving contradicting statements and confusing farmers,'' he added and said, ''while Agriculture Minister S A Ravindranath has said there is enough stock, the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is 'harshly' criticising the Centre for 'betraying' Karnataka farmers by not allocating enough fertilisers.'' Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said his party would support the State government to take up the matter with the Centre and also other issues like reimbursement of funds to the State Government on the loan waiver scheme taken up last year, special status to the backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region and according classical status to Kannada.

He alleged that the all party delegation would not serve any purpose and the BJP government lacked conviction and was not serious about the issues.

''It is only pretending to help the farmers. As the party is not making the clear position of the fertiliser stocks, we do not want to go to Delhi with them and lose face,'' he added.

He said Union Fertiliser Minister was touring abroad, while the Finance Minister P Chidambaram had assured that it would consider reimbursement of state's farm loan waiver.

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