Yeddyurappa calls off night-long dharna in Assembly

 

Belgaum, Nov 27, 2013 (PTI): KJP President and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who was on dharna in the Well of the Assembly for the second consecutive night last night, today called off his stir demanding extension of "Shaadi Bhagya" scheme to all communities following the suicide of a sugarcane farmer here during a stir demanding higher price for the crop.

 

"Shaadi Bhagya Yojana is no more an important issue for me after the death of a sugarcane farmer. From today I will fight for farmers and their survival," he told reporters after adjournment of the House.

 

Poor Muslim girls are given Rs 50,000 during their marriage under the scheme, which Yeddyurappa wanted to be extended to all communities.

 

He said he would be in the midst of the farmers and fight for them inside and outside the assembly.

 

As soon as he entered the House during the post-lunch session, Yeddyurappa who had visited the hospital where the farmer who consumed pesticide during a protest in front of the Assembly was brought dead, occupied his seat instead of squatting in the Well.

 

Earlier in the morning, Yeddyurappa said he would continue to sit on dharna until government extended Shaadi Bhagya Yojana to all communities.

 

During Question Hour, Housing Minister M H Ambareesh had made efforts to convince Yeddyurappa and escorted him to the seat, but the KJP leader sat for a few seconds and returned to the Well and continued his dharna.

 

Yeddyurappa had staged a 26-day-old dharna in Bangalore and shifted his protest to Belgaum, where the Winter Session of the legislature is on. He refused to come out even after the House was adjourned on Monday since when he was on dharna in the Well of the House continuing it even through the night.