3 hrs ago
BJP’s Ballari Chalo Padayatra Highlights Farmers’ Distress, Demands
The BJP held a march in Karnataka to talk about farmers’ problems.
The third day went from Gudadoor to Sindhanur.
B Y Vijayendra led the march and rode a bullock cart carrying a plough.
He also helped farmers plant paddy and shared a meal with them.
The BJP said many farmers were facing drought, unpaid crop payments and serious hardship.
It asked the government to waive some loans for drought-hit farmers.
Vijayendra also criticized the Congress government and cited farmer-suicide figures.
The BJP said it would raise these issues during a special meeting of the state legislature.
The third day of the BJP’s Ballari Chalo padayatra covered about 20 km from Gudadoor to Sindhanur in Raichur district.
B Y Vijayendra accused the Congress government of administrative failures, corruption and inadequate action on farmer distress.
The BJP demanded crop-loan waivers of up to Rs 5 lakh for drought-hit farmers and payment of pending maize MSP dues.
Vijayendra cited 3,655 farmer suicides in Karnataka over three years, including 937 in Kalyana Karnataka.
The BJP plans to raise agricultural loan waivers and other farmer concerns during the state legislature’s September 21–23 special session.
- Who
- The BJP, led by state president B Y Vijayendra, along with party leaders, workers and farmers.
- What
- The third day of the Ballari Chalo padayatra highlighted alleged government failures and demands concerning farmers and oppressed communities.
- Where
- The march travelled about 20 km from Gudadoor to Sindhanur in Raichur district, Karnataka.
- When
- Thursday, September 3, during the third day of the padayatra.
- Why
- The BJP said it wanted to draw attention to alleged corruption, administrative failures, farmer suicides, drought and problems affecting oppressed communities.
BJP’s allegations and demands
Congress position or reported response
Government response to farmer distress
BJP’s allegations and demands
The BJP accused the Congress government of corruption, administrative failures and inadequate action on farmer suicides and other farmer problems. It demanded loan waivers, payment of dues and greater attention to agriculture.
Congress position or reported response
The articles report Vijayendra’s criticism but do not provide a detailed Congress response to the allegations or demands.
Response to the padayatra
BJP’s allegations and demands
Vijayendra said the government should resolve farmers’ problems instead of opposing the BJP’s agitation through alleged black-flag protests.
Congress position or reported response
The articles report that Congress leaders allegedly called for black-flag protests, but do not give their detailed reasoning or response.
Use of welfare funds
BJP’s allegations and demands
Vijayendra alleged that funds assigned to the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan were being diverted to guarantee schemes and demanded that they be used for Dalit and other oppressed-community development.
Congress position or reported response
The articles do not report the government’s response to this allegation.
Key facts
- March route
- Gudadoor to Sindhanur, covering around 20 km
- Loan-waiver demand
- Crop loans of drought-hit farmers to be waived up to Rs 5 lakh
- Farmer suicides cited
- 3,655 in Karnataka over the past three years, according to Vijayendra
- Kalyana Karnataka figure
- 937 farmer suicides were cited in the region, including 295 in Kalaburagi, 169 in Raichur, 220 in Bidar and more than 80 in Koppal
- Pending MSP dues
- Around Rs 145 crore owed to maize growers
- Special legislature session
- Scheduled for September 21 to 23
- Water demands
- The BJP sought desilting of Hospet Dam and priority for the Navali reservoir project, aimed at storing 31 TMC of water
Quotes
B Y Vijayendra
Karnataka BJP president and leader of the Ballari Chalo padayatra
“Instead of showing black flags, first wipe the tears of farmers. Farmers are dying by suicide. It is the government’s responsibility to resolve their problems. The people are watching everything, and at the appropriate time, the people themselves will give their answer.”
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
“Priyank Kharge (Home Minister and Kalaburagi district in-charge), please take seriously the fact that 295 farmers have died by suicide in Kalaburagi district alone. The government must respond to the distress of the food provider.”
theprint.in







