Hubballi: The entire State is reeling under severe drought, yet the entire State Cabinet is busy concentrating on the elections to the two by-polls seats (Nanjangud and Gundlupet), said JD(S) Supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.
Speaking to media persons at Hubballi Airport on Sunday, before attending the wedding of former minister P C Siddanagoudar's son, he said, the State government has utterly failed in addressing the drought situation in the State.
"During our government, we had made sure that fodder was brought via trains from other States. However, no such efforts are being seen made by this Congress government," he added.
Almost all the rivers in State have gone dry, and there is hardly any fodder for animals. Yet, the entire cabinet is concentrating only on the by-polls, resulting in collapse of administration.
Even a former chief minister of Opposition party is participating in these elections as if he is taking part in Dasara Utsav, he said. He charged that those in responsible positions are indulging in unethical means of electoral practices by distributing money.
Farm sector
Mr Gowda said, both State and Union governments have failed to address the problems faced by the farmers. Both are passing the blame on each other regarding waiver of crop loans. "During the Ramakrishna Hegde government, our party had made sure that farmers loan were waived off by the State government without waiting for the Centre's assistance," he noted.
"For the Union government, agriculture is a useless sector. They are only interested in 'Digital India' and 'Smart India' projects," he charged.
In spite of speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on farmers crises several times there has been no positive response from him, Mr Deve Gowda added.
"I have tried to raise issues related to Karnataka, like Cauvery water dispute, in the Parliament. But due to lack of participation from the Tamil Nadu MPs, I have lost hope in resolving the issue. Now, I don't feel like going to parliament at all," he said.
Strengthen party
Mr Gowda said, efforts are being made to strengthen the party in the State.
Senior Party leader Basavaraj Horatti has given recommendations on how to strengthen the party, and we are working on it. The party has called for a core committee meeting at Bengaluru on April 20. Recently, two Congress leaders joined party and we will welcome all the like minded people into our party, he said.