Farmers are the soul of the nation, respect them: Gowda to PM

Bengaluru: “Farmers are the soul of the nation, respect them,” was the advice given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by his predecessor H D Deve Gowda, who also suggested measures to mitigate the impact of lockdown on them and the working class.

The JD(S) patriarch alleged that the lockdown was imposed in the country without forethought, putting farmers, agricultural labourers and daily wage earners to a lot of hardship.

However, he also appreciated Modi for taking all-round measures and issuing directions to state governments and the general public to combat the deadly virus.

He noted that the first reported incidence of COVID-19 was on January 30 and that the lockdown was imposed about two months later, “without any forethought and proper planning.”

“Without proper planning, preparations and forethought, the decision taken to impose lock down in the country has put farmers and dependent workers in financial hardship,”he added.

The Former Prime Minister had last week written a similar letter to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

He pointed out that when the lockdown was announced, no one rushed to buy gold, land, cars, expensive cellphones or dresses, but only vegetables, fruits, milk, rice, ragi and wheat