Three days after the suicide of a sugarcane farmer in front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha during the ongoing Winter Session of the Karnataka Assembly at Belgaum, Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government finds itself in a spot.
Vittal Arabhavi (60) of Kankanwadi village in Raibag Taluk of Belgaum district committed suicide on Wednesday which has shaken the Government and Opposition BJP, JD(S) and the KJP have found the farmer’s suicide as a weapon to take on the Government.
The deceased who was part of a group of farmers protesting against the Government for not increasing the support price for sugarcane committed suicide in front of Suvarna Vidahana Soudha due to financial crisis.
Shaken Chief Minister Siddaramaiah could take control of situation and ordered judicial enquiry into the farmer’s suicide. He also immediately announced a support price increase to Rs 2,500 per tonne which has been rejected by the farmers’ union.
Siddaramaiah also rejected the Opposition’s demand for his resignation but blamed the Opposition parties for playing politics over suicide. The Government also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. Siddaramaiah said, “The suicide of the sugarcane farmer is an unfortunate incident. The Opposition parties are playing politics over the issue. I won’t resign and we are committed to the welfare of the farmers.”
Meanwhile on Friday, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa adjourned the Assembly session till Monday. In fact, political observers feel former Chief Minister and KJP leader BS Yeddyurappa who was protesting against the Government for the past two weeks and also continued his dharna in the Well of the House asking Shadi Bidai scheme to extend to all communities has benefited with this issue.
With his political acumen, Yeddyurappa overtaken the BJP and played a major role in attacking the Congress Government. He told The Pioneer that the Government has failed to address the issue of the sugarcane farmers. He said, “I blame Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Government for the suicide. The Government did not respond to the farmers’ demands. Owning moral responsibility Siddaramaiah should resign.”
The leader of the Opposition and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy also came down heavily and said, “The Government did not clear the dues of the sugarcane farmers which led to the suicide.”
The BJP even though took the issue as a weapon to attack the Government was delayed in its response. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar blamed the Congress Government and staged a walkout on Thursday in its failure to protect the farmer’s interest. The BJP also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Meanwhile, farmers’ union leader Kurubur Shanthakumar accused the Government of the death. He said, “The Government is only protecting the interest of the sugar mill owners who control the Government. We will continue our protest.”