Leader of Opposition Ashok visits farm fields hit by rains in Hassan dist.

Shivamogga

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok visited the agricultural fields affected by recent heavy rains in Hassan district, and demanded the State government to provide compensation for the growers.

Mr. Ashok visited maize farms at Kariganahalli in Alur taluk. He interacted with farmers, who told him that they suffered a huge loss due to downy mildew (bili-suli), a fungal infection that hit the maize crop.

Later, he visited coffee estates at Kyanahalli and Chinnahalli in Sakleshpur taluk. Coffee, pepper, and areca plantations had been badly hit by the recent rains.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ashok said that the government was not responding to the woes of the farming community. The representatives had not taken time to visit the farms and speak to the farmers here.

“The government should come to their rescue. And if it does not have money, the government should borrow it to give compensation to the farmers,” he said.

Regarding the sudden deaths due to heart attack in Hassan district, Mr. Ashok urged the State government to find out the reason. “The Chief Minister became a laughing stock by commenting on the COVID-19 vaccine. The government should probe why there have been deaths in Hassan alone,” he said.

Legislators H.K. Suresh, Cement Manju, BJP district unit president Siddesh Nagendra, former MLA H.M. Vishwanath, and others were present.