The Hindu : Karnataka News : ‘Government pushing its saffron agenda’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

‘Government pushing its saffron agenda’

Staff Correspondent

KOLAR: Is the B.S. Yeddyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party Government trying to push through its “saffronisation” agenda along with privatisation in rural areas on the pretext of revitalising the agricultural sector? The answer is yes, according to G.C. Bayya Reddy, general secretary of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) State unit. Many of the government moves indicate its attempt to “saffronise” the farming sector besides privatising the Agriculture Department, alleged Mr. Bayya Reddy.

Unable to effectively handle the fertilizer crisis, the Government is trying to underestimate the role of fertilizers by making all-out efforts to promote organic farming.

Speaking to The Hindu during his visit here a couple of days ago, Mr. Reddy remarked that an agency formed by the Government to promote organic farming had Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders and activists. The Government appointed the Organic Farming Mission Empowered Committee on August 29, 2008.

Under the committee, trusts are being formed at taluk levels in which most of the members were from Sangh Parivar outfits, Mr. Reddy claimed. Though there were many who had adopted organic farming, none of them had been included in the committee, he alleged. It was dangerous that public money is being spent through Hindutva-propagating agencies, he alleged.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka