New ploy? BJP to seek rice as alms from farmers

Davanagere: State BJP workers have pledged to visit every household of farmers to collect rice in the form of alms as per Mushti Akki Abhiyan (campaign to collect alms) launched by the party here on Tuesday. They are planning to store the rice collected at district headquarters and consume it one day at a party convention after cooking it. 

At the Davangere convention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated party state president Yeddyurappa by handing over a plough to him and tried to instill confidence among distressed farmers. Addressing the rally after visiting  two families of debt-ridden farmers who have committed suicide in the district, Yeddyurappa said he will work for  farmers by winning 150 seats in the Assembly elections. Reiterating that the BJP will resolve the Mahadayi water dispute after coming to power, he said the Congress government in the state has failed to utilize Almatti water despite being allowed to raise the height of the reservoir. He also assured to get released the pending bills of sugarcane growers from factories. Lamenting that more than 3,700 farmers have ended their lives during the last five years, Yeddyurappa said he will make all efforts to stop farmers from killing themselves.