Karnataka Minister Dismisses BJP Padayatra as Political Stunt
Karnataka minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah criticises BJP's padayatra as politically motivated and lacking public support, urging Centre to help farmers hit by dry spells.
Karnataka's Urban Development Minister, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, has sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party's ongoing padayatra, asserting that the protest has failed to attract public support. Speaking to reporters in Raichur on Sunday, he alleged that the BJP's continued march is driven purely by political motives.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that the BJP's primary demand—the resignation of minister B. Nagendra—has already been met, yet the party persists with its agitation. He argued that this indicates the padayatra is less about public welfare and more about political point-scoring.
The Minister also took the Opposition to task for its conduct during the recent Legislative Assembly session. Instead of raising pressing issues such as drought conditions and farmer grievances, he said, BJP leaders chose to prioritise their political agenda and squander legislative time. He accused the Opposition of showing no genuine concern or clarity regarding public issues, dry spells, or agricultural distress.
Addressing the agrarian crisis, Siddaramaiah urged the Union government to provide assistance to farmers who have suffered crop losses due to prolonged dry spells. He assured that the state government would also take its own initiatives in this regard.
Recalling past instances of perceived bias, he noted that compensation funds from the Centre had previously been released only after the Supreme Court intervened, alleging discrimination against the state's farmers in the disbursal of relief.