Amid a demand by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) for announcement of farm loan waiver by the Karnataka government, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said that the State was willing to share the financial burden of loan waiver if the Union government makes such an announcement.
“Let us join together and plead with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a loan waiver. We will give our share. We will stop grants to other programmes. There can be an understanding on Centre-State ratio in the loan waiver. We are ready for even 60:40 ratio,” the Chief Minister told the Legislative Assembly, even as Leader of Opposition R. Ashok kept urging for an announcement. “I do not want confrontation in the time of drought,” the Chief Minister said.
His response came after Mr. Ashok asked him not to become “king of promises.” Quoting the Chief Minister’s statement in Kalaburagi recently on considering loan waiver, the Leader of Opposition said, “Do not miss a good opportunity to go into the history books by announcing loan waiver. You are being branded as a real estate advocate. You decide what you want to be the brand ambassador of, real estate or agriculture? Announce a compensation of at least ₹25,000 per acre,” he said.
Mr. Shivakumar retorted by accusing the BJP of not being bothered about the poor or farmers. “They (BJP) wanted to play politics and did not participate in the (Monsoon) session. I would not have called for this session if I was not concerned about farmers.”
Regarding Mr. Ashok’s taunt on real estate, he said, “I belong to Bengaluru and I have property here. Should I not do business? I do not care how you brand me.”
Fodder for 33 weeks
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara said that the State has fodder stock for 33 weeks, and that fodder kits are being supplied to farmers who have access to water.
“If the situation worsens, we will open fodder banks and goshalas for the cattle. About ₹409 crore are available with the Deputy Commissioners.”
Dr. Parameshwara also accused the Centre of not responding to a communication by the State, and urged the Centre to send a team for drought assessment. “We have written to the Centre 10 times to revise the Drought Manual- 2020 but there has been no word on it,” he said.
