Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacks Karnataka government for ignoring farmers

Both BJP and Congress are digging deep to woo farmers ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections 2017 scheduled for May 12.

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New Delhi: Listing out achievements of the central government in the agricultural and rural sectors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked farmers in Karnataka to snub Congress  - accusing the party of having ignored their needs.

In the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly elections - scheduled for May 12, farmer-related issues have been given importance by both BJP as well as Congress. While the Siddaramaih-led Congress government in the state has claimed it has relentlessly worked towards improving the conditions of farmers, PM Modi has challenged it. "Due to the apathy of Karnataka government, farmers in the state have not got the benefit of 'Fasal Bima Yojna'. A sensitive government, which works for the development of farmers is needed in Karnataka," he said while addressing  Kisan Morcha Karyakartas of Karnataka.

Elaborating on what his government at the centre has done, PM Modi assured that needs of farmers in Karnataka would continue to be taken care of. "There needs to be a co-ordination between nature, farmers and government. Farmer’s leader in Yeddyurappa ji will work with renewed vigour in our efforts to double farmer’s income," he said. "Four lakh hectare land in Karnataka has already been brought under micro-irrigation We have increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for notified crops to at least 1.5 times that of the production cost. We will continue to work hard to help you."

Congress too has made several promises and in its manifesto released last week, claimed the party would double the income of farmers if voted back to power. The party also assured that compensation would be provided for damaged crops, uninterrupted power supply would be provided, among other assurances.