Karkala; Dec 08: Addressing the press reporters in the press meet held on Dec 07, Saturday in Karkala Vikas office, legislator V.Sunil Kumar said in his address that in the backdrop of Gutka ban by the supreme court as per the recommendation of state’s health department to supreme court, now it has submitted a report to union government to ban the areca nut crop, the backbone of the areca nut farmers. This stance of the state government will be fiercely opposed by BJP, warned MLA Sunil Kumar.
He further said that in total of 2.50 hectares of land, areca nut will be cultivated in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shimog, Chickmaglur, North Kannada, Davangere and other places. By banning the crop of areca nuts, central government is going to write a death legislation on farmers who are solely relying on areca nut for their livelihood and providing employments to millions of people. There is no reason to tolerate such a bad decision of union government, he added
Almost 20 thousand crore turn over from areca nut cultivation. Though health department has submitted its report to court on November 25 stating that there is no ill-effect from Areca nut, it is a tragedy that state government has not yet awakened from its slumber even after ten days of report submission to court. In case the areca nut crop has been banned, it is certain that there are millions of farmers not only commit suicide but also thousands of families, for them this is the only source of income will be thrown into streets, he said
Continuing his speech he said that the attitude of the exploitation of farmers by banning the areca nut crop is highly condemnable. In order to convince the union government, the state government should take all party delegation to Delhi and complete report should be given there. In the wake of listening the news of banning areca nut crop, it is clear that farmers are in fierce angry mood. If the governments are stick to their attitude and go ahead with their decisions without bow down to the demands of the farmers, it is inevitable to stage a fierce protest by BJP on behalf of areca nut farmers, he warned
Smt.Rashmi Shetty,President taluk panchayat,Giridhara Nayak,BJP city president,Yuva Morcha president Mahaveera Jain,Suresh Madivala and among others were present.
