Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who leads the youth wing of the Janata Dal (Secular) party in Karnataka, has sharply criticized the State Government for its perceived “complete indifference” towards farmers. These farmers are currently facing devastating crop losses due to relentless heavy rains across the Kalyana Karnataka region. Kumaraswamy emphatically called on the government to swiftly declare a compensation package of ₹25,000 per acre for all affected agriculturalists.
During a press conference held in Kalaburagi on September 16, Mr. Nikhil highlighted the severe impact of the monsoons. “Since August, heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc on approximately one lakh hectares of agricultural land in the region, destroying vital crops such as red gram, black gram, and green gram. Kalaburagi district alone accounts for nearly 50,000 hectares of red gram devastation,” he stated. He emphasized the plight of farmers who, after securing loans for their seasonal planting, are now left with minimal to no harvest. “They are entitled to at least ₹25,000 per acre in compensation,” he asserted.
Kumaraswamy further accused the State Government of making grand announcements without any tangible action. He suggested that this inaction points to either an empty state treasury or a fundamental lack of political will to address the farmers’ crisis effectively.
“While farmers are losing their very means of livelihood, the government continues to exhibit a shocking level of indifference,” he added, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
He specifically challenged Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy’s apparent failure to visit the flood-affected farmers in Kalaburagi, demanding accountability.
“Is Minister Cheluvarayaswamy’s responsibility limited to his own Assembly constituency, or does it extend to the entire State?” Mr. Nikhil questioned pointedly. He detailed the extensive damage: “Standing crops across vast areas have been decimated by the rains, and tragically, over 100 cattle have perished. While the Chief Minister merely conducted a video conference, the Agriculture Minister has yet to set foot in the rain-battered regions.”
Nikhil Kumaraswamy Criticizes Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB)
In a strong condemnation, Mr. Nikhil also turned his criticism towards the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), branding it a “hub of commission politics.” He alleged that a staggering 30% of the board’s projects are being awarded to contractors in exchange for kickbacks. “The KKRDB appears to exist solely for the purpose of making money. While its name is invoked for development, the reality on the ground is starkly different,” he asserted. He highlighted Kalaburagi’s roads, which are reportedly riddled with potholes. “They should, at the very least, fill these craters before even contemplating new road projects,” he remarked, concluding that the KKRDB has failed not only in road repair but also in delivering genuine welfare to the Kalyana Karnataka region.
Several senior party functionaries, including Doddappagowda Naribol, Balraj Guttedar, Shivkumar Natikar, and Krishnareddy, were also in attendance at the press conference.