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June 11, 2008
Yeddyurappa asks Police Not to Open Fire at Farmers
Bangalore
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Wednesday ordered the
state police not to open fire at agitating farmers, whatever be the
provocation. The directive came a day after one person was killed in
police firing on farmers protesting against fertilizer and seed
shortage in north Karnataka's Haveri district.
"The police should not resort to firing on farmers whatever the
situation and provocation. I have given this direction to them,"
Yeddyurappa told reporters before flying to Haveri to meet the
family of Siddalingappa Churi, who died in the firing.
At Haveri, he handed over a cheque for Rs.200,000 to Churi's family
as compensation and offered a job to a family member.
Yeddyurappa later flew to New Delhi and met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Wednesday evening to seek immediate supply of fertilisers to
the state.
He blamed the central government for the shortage and said it was
trying to "pass the buck" to the state government.
Yeddyurappa, who Tuesday said there was no shortage of fertilizer
and the farmers' agitation was politically motivated, said Wednesday
that the stock of DAP (di ammonium phosphate) in Karnataka as of
April 1 this year was 3,821 tonnes as against 52,962 tonnes on April
1, 2007. Complex manures stock was only 9,409 tonnes compared to
73,793 tonnes April 1, 2007.
"The central government promised to release 120,000 tonnes of DAP
and 110,000 tonnes of complex manures in June. But as on Wednesday,
we have received 23,000 tonne of DAP and 24,500 tonnes of complex
manures," he said.
"The centre is directly responsible (for the shortage)," he said.
Yeddyurappa, who May 30 took oath as chief minister in the name of
god and farmer, said the Haveri incident has shocked his government.
He rejected the opposition Congress demand for a judicial probe into
Haveri firing and said he has already ordered an investigation by a
senior official, who will submit the report in ten days.
Farmers in 10 of the state's 29 districts have been agitating for
eight days now demanding adequate fertilizer and seed supply to
begin sowing operations as monsoon rains have started.
The agitation turned violent in Dharwad district Monday where three
buses were burnt and shops selling fertilisers were attacked. The
violence spread to neighbouring Haveri Tuesday with the police
opening fire to control the crowd after a baton charge and teargas
shells failed to restore order.
Haveri was tense but free of any incident Wednesday as Churi's
funeral was held, the police said in Bangalore.
IANS
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June 11, 2008
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