For the second consecutive day, 'super CM' B S Yeddyurappa promised to do his best for shepherds and farmers as he toured parched areas of Chitradurga district on Wednesday. The former chief minister, who hopped off his spruced up vehicle near Challakere to talk to shepherds and weavers of woolen blankets, promised to get the authorities concerned to address their grievances immediately.
"I know that there are about 5.30 lakh sheep in the district. I will request the government to provide adequate fodder to shepherds," he added. Mr Yeddyurappa attacked the Union government for not providing adequate funds for drought-relief schemes in Karnataka. He charged that it sanctioned Rs 43,951 crore to several states in north India, but did not do so for the state. He demanded that the Union government should write off loans sanctioned by public sector banks to help farmers tide over the acute drought in the state. Leaders of the Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (S) should support the government's efforts to secure aid from the Union government and thus help farmers during such distressful times.
The former CM lamented that MPs from Karnataka were not pressurizing the Centre to release more funds for the benefit of the farming community in Karnataka. Farmers demanded supply of drinking water, creation of employment opportunities and establishment of Goshalas for their cattle.