Karnataka   

BJP promises farmers free power

Joyous occasion: Chairman of the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ashok Kheny felicitating Shivamurthy Murugha Swami on his 50th birthday in Chitradurga on Friday. The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa looks on.

Chitradurga: The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will release its manifesto shortly.

Addressing presspersons before attending a programme at the Murughurajendra Math here on Friday, he said the BJP, if brought to power, would facilitate loans at an interest rate of 3 per cent to farmers, weavers, fishermen and self-help groups.

He said free electricity would be given to farmers for their pumpsets. The Government would bear the cost, which would work out to Rs. 65 crore. Mr. Yeddyurappa said the manifesto would also include provision of Rs. 1,000 a month to unemployed youth, besides giving widows a pension of Rs. 400 a month.

Criticising the approval of a Rs. 2,000-crore project under the Gram Sadak Yojana by Governor Rameshwar Thakur, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the move was in clear violation of the model code of conduct.

He said that while the code of conduct was already in force, the Government had violated its spirit by approving the project. Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would file a complaint with the Election Commission against the Governor.

He alleged that Mr. Thakur was acting at the behest of the Centre by transferring officials in the State. “If he continues working in such a manner, the BJP will be forced to launch a campaign to remove him from office,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.

Reacting sharply to the recent statement of Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda that no party would be able to form the Government without the support of the JD(S), Mr. Yeddyurappa said such statements were irresponsible and unethical. “The people are witness to the self-centric politics of Mr. Gowda, who has continued to betray them. They will not submit to his shenanigans,” he said.

He charged the United Progressive Alliance Government with failing to control the prices of essential commodities. Even their allies such as the Left parties were dissatisfied, he added.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that a few politicians were dishonest and involved in fraudulent activities.

He said such leaders, despite being few in number, were ruling the roost, and added that it was the people who should decide consciously whom they wanted in power. He said only by voting for the right candidates could people bring in the required changes in society.

“We need people like the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to guide the nation,” he said.

Appreciating the activities of the seer, he said he was successfully spreading the message of 12th century reformer Basaveshwara.

The swamiji hailed the Supreme Court judgment upholding 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in higher educational institutions.

Terming the judgment historic, he said reservation would enable poor and marginalised people pursue higher education.

The deprived sections of society should be treated equally in every sector. Chairman of the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ashok Kheny was present on the occasion.

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