Hold 'yatras' to build confidence in farmers, BJP tells government

BENGALURU: BJP today slammed the state government for "failing" to properly address the issue of farmers suicide and suggested holding " Vishwas Yatras" by prominent people, including agricultural experts, to build confidence among distressed agriculturists.

"The state government has failed in stopping farmers from committing suicide .... I feel it is necessary for prominent people including agricultural experts to build confidence among distressed farmers, which can stop them from committing suicide," party spokesman CT Ravi told reporters here.

Disputing government's claims that 199 farmers committed suicide, he said BJP had "found out" that 221 farmers ended their lives.

BJP had formed a committee to visit parts of Karnataka where farmers had committed suicide in order to file a report before the state and central governments, suggesting remedial measures to be taken to address agrarian problems, Ravi said.

During their visit, the BJP panel found out that most of the farmers having small holdings between three to ten acres of land have committed suicide, Ravi said.

In last five days alone, as many as 50 farmers committed suicide, he claimed, adding, the incidents had increased in last seven months.

"People from different walks of life can be drawn for participating in vishwas yatras," he said.

Government should make crop insurance policy mandatory which will give emotional support to farmers in distress, he said. He also lamented that "only 63 farmers have got the relief and cases of 23 other farmers have been rejected."

Ravi said the government should announce waiver of short term and long-term loans for farmers