Speaking to media persons, BJP floor leader in the Legislative Assembly KS Eshwarappa on Wednesday morning said, that the decision on the protest and jail bharo programme was taken at the two-day BJP workers convention which was to conclude the same evening. Nearly 3.5 lakh party workers would participate in the jail bharo programme he said.

On the fertiliser issue, he charged Karnataka's agriculture minister with politicising the matter, by laying the blame at the Centre's door, when in fact the shortage was due to the turnover tax imposed by the state government. He demanded that the minister furnish details of the correspondence between the state and the Centre in this regard.

With regard to the power tariff, hesaid the state government had effected a hike thrice so far, generating a total income of Rs 1,450 crore. The tariff hike of 1996 earned the state Rs 750 crore, while in 1997 the state earned Rs 350 crore from yet another tariff hike, with a similar amount raised from the third tariff hike in 1998.

The convention also passed a resolution demanding the dismissal of corrupt ministers from the state cabinet. Other resolutions passed included one congratulating the Prime Minister for resolving the Cauvery dispute. Resolutions demanding compensation to families of farmers who committed suicide recently due to a poor crop, and that the problems of weavers in the state be resolved, were also passed.

Preceding the jail bharo programme, party leaders would also tour the various districts of the state between September 7 and 13. Four teams would spread out in different directions headed by state president BS Yediyurappa, legislators DH Shanakara Murthy and Basavaraj Patil Sedam, besides himself.

The BJP,led by its state unit president, BS Yediyurappa today also staged a dharna in front of the state agriculture directorate to protest against what they called the government's `failure' to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers to farmers and demanding withdrawal of three per cent turnover tax on the commodity.

Legislators, MPs -- Ayyanoor Manjunath, M Srinivas -- and party workers raised slogans against the government for short supply of fertilizers.

Yediyurappa, addressing the gathering, demanded the resignation of the minister for agriculture, C Byre Gowda if he failed to initiate steps to procure required quantity of fertilizers.

Minister of State for Prisons and Public Grievances, V Somanna rushed to the spot and assured the BJP leaders that the government would look into the matter.