Solve farmers' problems together: Krishna

By A. Jayaram

CHANNAPATNA, NOV. 19. The Congress settled its political score with the Janata Dal (Secular) and displayed its hold over the rural masses at a farmers' rally held here today.

The farmers were, however, disappointed. It coincided with the 84th birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was originally scheduled to be held on November 12 but put off owing to the elections to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council.

Displaying political moderation and eschewing the extreme form of political bitterness between the Congress and the JD(S) in recent years, the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, said all the political parties should come together to solve the problems of farmers.

The organisers and the police, who had made elaborate security arrangements, heaved a sigh of relief as the rally went off peacefully. For, the JD(S) leaders had asked their party workers and farmers not to disturb the meet or attempt at preventing people from attending it.

No doubt, the Government had lifted the ban on tapping neera from coconut palms on the eve of the former Prime Minister, Mr. H. D. Deve Gowda's padayatra from Vitlenahalli near here to Bangalore meeting a major demand of the coconut growers hit hard by the mite disease.

The ministers and other leaders, except the Chief Minister, attacked Mr. Deve Gowda and his two politician sons in their speeches and questioned Mr. Gowda's credentials to be a ``son of the soil'' and leader of farmers of the State or the country.

The KPCC President, Mr. Allum Veerabhadrappa, and the entire leadership of the State Congress, almost all the ministers and Co-Chairman of the AICC Kissan Cell, Mr. Janardhana Poojary, several party legislators and MPs attended the meeting. Though advertised as a farmers' rally, it was a Congress show.

People from far and near attended the rally, listened to the speeches and dispersed satisfying the ego of the some of the local Congress leaders. The rally turned out to be a personal triumph for the ambitious Minister for Cooperation, Mr. D. K. Shivakumar, who is the target of attack of the JD(S).

Also on display was the abilities of some of the ministers and the Congress leaders in mobilising people and ferrying them to Channapatna in hundreds of vehicles including KSRTC and BMTC buses.

The rally was the Congress's answer to the JD(S)'s support to the coconut growers' demand to tap neera from the affected palms. The JD(S) had entered the scene after the death of two persons at Vitlenahalli in police firing.

The Chief Minister highlighted the concessions his Government had extended to farmers. Thousands of pamphlets had been distributed detailing the benefits given to the farmers during the last two years. Mr. Krishna said that the rally was held to understand and address the problems of farmers. Similar congregations of farmers should be organised in all districts. The problems of farmers could not be solved by one political party or government. It needed combined and concerted action. All the political parties should take an impartial view of the problems of farmers which, he said, could not be solved by throwing challenges, in an obvious dig at the JD(S). He did not believe in throwing the gauntlet at anyone. But he was ready to accept any challenge, Mr. Krishna declared.

Mr. Krishna criticised those who were exploiting farmers to serve their own ends. Such persons should be sidelined. Hitting out at Mr. Deve Gowda, Mr. R. L. Jalappa, Congress MP described him as a ``jackpot prime minister'' as it was by sheer luck he came to hold that office.

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