OD Vijayendra Photo Credit: file photo
BJP state president BY Vijayendra on Friday accused the state government of neglecting the agrarian crisis in North Karnataka, saying the Congress administration has failed to address the pressing concerns of farmers dependent on the Tungabhadra command area.
Addressing reporters at the party’s state office here, he said the BJP would launch a series of district- and taluk-level protests demanding immediate measures to support maize growers and farmers awaiting release of water for the second crop.
Vijayendra said the party would pressurize the government to open malls without delay. He reiterated that if water could not be released for the second crop, the government should provide compensation of ₹25,000 per acre to all affected farmers.
Ridge gates
Recalling the long-awaited installation of 32 new ridge gates for the Tungabhadra dam, he said the work had not progressed despite Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s earlier assurance that Karnataka would take up the project independently. He also asked for urgent funds to repair left bank and right bank canals to prevent water loss due to seepage.
The BJP has decided to finalize its campaign plans by November 26 and the party’s raitha morcha president AS Patil Nadahalli will visit the affected districts to draw up a schedule, he said.
Mr. Vijayendra, who alleged that there were repeated mistakes in handling the crop loss, said the government had neither responded to the persistent protests of sugarcane farmers nor addressed the problems of maize farmers.
He criticized the Congress government for restricting itself to Bengaluru and not providing compensation weeks after the aid was announced.
Published – 15 Nov 2025 21:33 IST
