Kalaburagi likely in second drought list, says Minister Ajay Singh
Minister for Minor Irrigation Ajay Singh has said that taluks in Kalaburagi district are expected to be included in the State government's second list of drought-hit areas. Speaking to presspersons in Kalaburagi city on Saturday, Dr. Singh said the first list was not final, and the government would make necessary efforts to have the district's affected taluks included.
“This is only the first list, and it is not final. We are hopeful that Kalaburagi will be included in the second list,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged that farmers in the district have been facing difficulties due to inadequate rainfall and crop losses. He said he, along with district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, would meet Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara to request inclusion of the district's taluks in the drought-hit list.
Dr. Singh noted that drought is declared based on prescribed criteria and assured the government would take necessary steps to protect farmers' interests. He did not elaborate on the criteria or the timeline for the second list.
In a separate development, the Minister responded to queries about the resignation of former minister B. Nagendra. He said Mr. Nagendra resigned voluntarily to avoid any embarrassment to the Congress party, and denied that he had resigned under pressure.
“Mr. Nagendra, as a loyal Congress leader and an asset to the party, resigned voluntarily so that the party would not be embarrassed. There was no pressure on him to resign,” Dr. Singh said.
Dr. Singh accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting Mr. Nagendra because it had no substantive issues against the Congress government. He claimed that the Congress government has completed three years of good governance and development works. “The BJP is unable to digest this and, having no issues to raise, has chosen to target Mr. Nagendra,” he said.
The Minister further alleged that the BJP has resorted to protest politics with elections approaching. “The BJP remained silent for three years and has now started resorting to protest politics,” he said. He also claimed that the BJP's State leadership is facing internal differences, with leaders pulling in different directions and failing to present a united front.
Mr. Nagendra's resignation has been a topic of political debate. Dr. Singh's comments are the latest statement from a Congress leader defending the resignation as voluntary. The BJP has not yet publicly responded to his remarks.
Inclusion in the drought-hit list is crucial for farmers as it enables them to receive compensation for crop loss, input subsidies, and other assistance from the government. The declaration also helps in the assessment of relief packages and loan restructuring. For Kalaburagi, where many farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture, such support can be vital.
