HDK sows paddy in Mandya 

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy sows paddy in Mandya, emphasizing support for farmers and addressing political issues.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy sowed paddy in an agricultural field in Mandya district on Sunday.

Accompanied by former Minister C.S. Puttaraju and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) leader, who was attired in a dhoti and a white shirt, joined other farmers in transplanting the paddy seedlings in the slushy fields of Seethapura village in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district.

It may be mentioned here that Mr. Kumaraswamy had similarly planted paddy seedlings in the same village in August 2018 when he was the Chief Minister heading the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

The paddy sowing exercise on Sunday in the same village comes a day after the conclusion of the eight-day-long Bengaluru to Mysuru padayatra concluded with a rally in Mysuru on Saturday demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged scam in Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.

While planting saplings on Sunday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the good rains this year had brought joy to the farming community, which had taken to cultivating their lands. The farmers had to suffer last year because they were unable to cultivate their crops due to absence of good rains.

The farmers are happily working in their fields this year because the reservoirs were full after a good rainfall. He said the farmers had invited him to join them and he was happy to participate in the paddy sowing exercise, Mr. Kumaraswamy said while adding that his participation in such exercises will help him understand the problems faced by the farmers.

He also pointed out that the family of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had always been close to the farmers. He said his father Mr. Gowda was born as a farmer and represented the farming community.