Udupi, April 4: Former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said on Wednesday that Union Government should immediately release Rs. 500 crore to cover the crop-loss in the State owing to unseasonable rain.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that according to estimation by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the crop-loss in Karnataka was worth Rs. 1,500 crore. Alleging that the Governor Rameshwar Thakur was hesitating to seek funds from the Union Government in this regard, he said: “It concerns hundreds of farmers in the State. If the Centre does not act immediately, we will stage a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan.”

The State Government should release Rs. 250 crore for the farmers, immediately. Their crops, including coffee, grapes, bananas, jowar, and vegetables had been seriously affected by the unseasonable rain. “Instead of attending to the problems of farmers, the Governor is keen on transferring officials. He has become a puppet in the hands of the Congress,” he said. He said a meeting of party’s top leaders would be convened in a couple of days to finalise the list of candidates for Assembly elections. This list would then be sent to the Central Committee for its approval, he added.

BJP leaders Nagaraj Shetty, V.S. Acharya, Raghupati Bhat and Lalaji Mendan were present.

Hindu