Mysuru: Over 5,000 farmers from across the district took part in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘Mission-2024’ Convention at Maharaja’s College Grounds here this morning. ‘Mission- 2024’ is a campaign organised by BJP Raitha Morcha to create awareness on chemical-free agricultural methods in the district.

Speaking after inaugurating the convention, State BJP Vice-President and former Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad said that the State Congress Government was deaf to the plight of the farming community.

Accusing CM Siddharamaiah of behaving in an autocratic manner, Prasad said that the CM had no wisdom that a person heading the State should have.

Maintaining that the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the  Centre had addressed several issues pertaining to agriculture and farmers, the senior BJP leader said that today’s conference was aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt organic farming.

He highlighted the role of various morchas in strengthening the party’s organisational base.

Earlier, State Raitha Morcha leader Prasanna N. Gowda delivered the keynote address.

State BJP President and former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, Former Ministers S.A. Ramdas and B. Sriramulu, leaders K.R. Mohan Kumar, H.V. Rajeev and others were present.

C.H. Vijayashankar skips convention

Meanwhile, State BJP Raitha Morcha President and former MP C.H. Vijayashankar, who was supposed to lead the conference was conspicuous by his absence.  Vijayashankar, a former Minister in the B.S. Yeddyurappa Cabinet, is said to be planning to quit BJP soon and cross over to the Congress.

The ex-MP, who is said to be miffed with the State BJP leaders over his neglect in the party, had remained incommunicado to several BJP leaders including MP Shobha Karandlaje and State BJP Chief Yeddyurappa.