Kumaraswamy asserted that there will be no coalition with BJP or any other parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. “We will field candidates in all the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state and there is question of coalition with other parties,” he added.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said that although the loss encountered by arecanut growers in Dakshina Kannada district due to fruit rot disease was estimated at Rs 220 crores, the state government planned to sanction merely Rs 25 crore to compensate their loss.
Addressing mediapersons at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that arecanut growers in the state had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 3,230 crore due to excess rain and fruit rot disease in Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Karwar districts. However, the government has so far released only Rs 8.41 crores to the affected families. Over 1,67,000 families have been affected by failure of arecanut crop. As per NCRF guidelines, growers should be compensated with a sum of Rs 12,000 per hectare for over 5 percent crop failure. How will the government compensate affected growers by mere Rs 25 crores,” he argued, adding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had not visited any affected areas so far.
This shows how the government is responding to the problems of farmers in the state, he said, adding that JD(S) would launch state-wide agitation if the government failed to extend compensation to affected farmers within 15 days.
On his resignation from the post of JD(S) state president, Mr Kumaraswamy said that a core committee would be set up to choose the new state president of JD(S) within a day or two. “There is no change in my decision of quitting as the JD(S) state president. A core committee to select the new president will be set up and a list of 51 leaders has already been prepared. However, I have suggested reducing the number of core committee members to 15. A decision regarding new president for the state JD(S) unit will be taken within 2-3 days,” he said.
On the proposal of setting up a 4,000 MW ultra-mega power plant at Niddodi in Moodbidri, Kumaraswamy said that the government should shell the proposed project considering the opposition from local people. “The project should be taken up only after taking people into confidence,” he added.
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