Ballari: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on July 30, Thursday warned the Karnataka government that the BJP would launch a statewide “Chalo Hola Gadde” agitation from August 3 if it failed to immediately declare drought in the State. He alleged that despite widespread crop failure and poor rainfall across several districts, the government had delayed taking a decision, leaving farmers without relief.
Speaking to mediapersons after inspecting drought-hit agricultural fields at Karekal village in Ballari district, Ashoka said farmers across Karnataka were facing severe hardship as crops had failed to germinate due to inadequate rainfall. He alleged that the government was ignoring the ground reality and had not initiated the process for declaring drought despite mounting losses.
ರಾಜ್ಯದ ರೈತರು ಬರಗಾಲದಿಂದ ಕಂಗೆಟ್ಟು ಬದುಕಿನ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟ ಎದುರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ, ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮಾತ್ರ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯದ ಧೋರಣೆ ತಾಳಿರುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ವಿಷಾದನೀಯ.
ಬರಪೀಡಿತ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳ ಜನರು ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ಅರಸಿ ಬೇರೆ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಗುಳೆ ಹೋಗುವ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಗಂಭೀರ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಚಿವರು ದೆಹಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲ… pic.twitter.com/up8IArf5Cg
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) July 30, 2026
“There is drought across several districts, but the government has still not declared it. If it continues to delay, BJP leaders and workers will launch the ‘Chalo Hola Gadde’ protest by sitting in farmers’ fields across the State”, he said.
Ashoka claimed that farmers had spent heavily on sowing but had received nothing in return because of the prolonged dry spell. He said in many places even the first sprouts had failed to emerge despite sowing being completed weeks ago. According to him, only about 38 per cent of the targeted sowing had been completed in Ballari district, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
ಅನ್ನದಾತನ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟ ಹೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿದೆ… ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯ ಮುಂದುವರಿದಿದೆ!
ಬರ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ಪ್ರವಾಸದ ಎರಡನೇ ದಿನದ ಅಂಗವಾಗಿ ಇಂದು ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಸಂಡೂರು ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕಿನ ವಿಠಲಾಪುರ ಗ್ರಾಮಕ್ಕೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿ, ರೈತರ ಜಮೀನುಗಳಿಗೆ ತೆರಳಿ ಬರ ಹಾಗೂ ನೀರಿನ ಕೊರತೆಯಿಂದ ಹಾನಿಗೊಳಗಾದ ಬೆಳೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ, ರೈತರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳು… pic.twitter.com/dw6FPCmHV2
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) July 30, 2026
He cited official figures to claim that sowing stood at 14.56 per cent in Ballari taluk, 5.32 per cent in Kurugodu, 52.79 per cent in Siruguppa, 67.33 per cent in Sandur and 34.91 per cent in Kampli. Although crops such as maize and cotton had been sown in some areas, he alleged that most fields remained barren as the seedlings had not emerged. Even if rains arrived now, they would not significantly improve the situation, he added.
Criticising the Congress government, Ashoka alleged that it was reluctant to declare drought because it would immediately become liable to pay compensation to farmers. He claimed that the Finance Department had cautioned the government about the financial burden involved in drought relief, leading to delays in the declaration.
The BJP leader also alleged that local farmers had complained that government officials visited affected villages only after he announced his inspection tour. He further questioned why water from the Tungabhadra reservoir, which currently holds around 36 TMC of water, had not been released for irrigation. He recalled that during the previous BJP government, irrigation water had been released even when storage was around 26 TMC. Ashoka announced that BJP leaders would undertake a padayatra from the Anjaneya Temple to the Tungabhadra reservoir to press for the release of water.
Launching a political attack on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ashoka alleged that agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry had been neglected since the new government assumed office. He claimed the State had sought ₹10,000 crore from the Centre without first completing the mandatory drought assessment and declaration process. He said insurance companies would process crop insurance claims only after the State formally declared drought.
Ashoka urged the government to utilise employment schemes to provide work for distressed farmers and agricultural labourers, alleging that many people were migrating in search of livelihoods. He demanded that the government allocate ₹50 crore to every taluk to ensure drinking water and fodder supplies and provide compensation of ₹50,000 per acre to farmers who had incurred cultivation expenses. He said many farmers had spent ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 per acre, while quality seeds alone had cost up to ₹3,000 per kilogram.
He also called for a farm loan waiver of up to ₹1 lakh per farmer, saying it would provide immediate relief to families struggling with crop losses. Referring to central assistance, Ashoka claimed the NDA government had released higher disaster relief funds under the SDRF and NDRF than the previous UPA government and alleged that the Congress government had failed to distribute compensation promptly.
Ashoka further criticised the proposed visit of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, alleging it was intended only to gain publicity over the Cauvery issue. He reiterated that the BJP would oppose the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu while Karnataka itself was facing drought conditions.
Raising another issue affecting farmers in Ballari, Ashoka alleged that mining activity was coating crop leaves with dust and polluting water in Veerapur Lake. He said he would raise the issue during the forthcoming Assembly session and seek corrective measures from the government.
