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June 11, 2008
Yeddyurappa Meets PM over Fertilizer Shortage
New Delhi
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa met Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh here Wednesday evening to seek an immediate supply of
fertilizers for his state, which is grappling with farmers'
agitations over fertilizer shortage.
"I met the prime minister for the second time after assuming office
on May 30 and drew his attention to the severe shortage of
fertilizers in Karnataka," Yeddyurappa told reporters.
“Though the union secretary of the fertilizer ministry visited the
state after my first meeting and (there were) assurances by the
union government, our demands have not been fulfilled,” he said.
Yeddyurappa is also expected to meet Fertilizer Minister Ram Vilas
Paswan to reiterate his demand.
“Though the states in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in power are being
discriminated against, I have full faith in the prime minister and
hope he will meet our demands,” the chief minister said.
Yeddyurappa, who is the first BJP chief minister of a southern
state, blamed the six-month president's rule preceding the elections
in Karnataka and the central government's lack of concern for the
agitations in the state.
He gave figures of the quota and the shortfall in the supply of
Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and fertilizer complex in Karnataka.
The central government has failed to sanction the subsidy amount to
the fertilizer companies, which adds to the woes, he said.
"We are having problems in the entire state. But I have ordered the
police to not fire at agitating farmers," Yeddyurappa said.
On Wednesday, a farmer was killed in Haveri, 350 km from Bangalore,
when police opened fire at a group of agitating farmers, who were
demanding fertilizers ahead of the sowing season. Three other
farmers were injured in the firing.
The chief minister, who visited the family of the deceased, broke
down after hearing their woes.
“We have ordered an inquiry into the incident and will get a report
within 10 days. It appears to be a case in which certain political
forces and anti-social elements were involved,” he said.
Farmers in Hassan, Dharwad and Davangere have been agitating for
nearly a week on the shortage of fertilizers.
IANS
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June 11, 2008
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