Announce one-time complete loan waiver scheme: HD Kumaraswamy

Protest by Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene enters 15th day

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy demanded the State government to announce one-time complete loan waiver scheme for farmers including areca growers who are suffering from crop loss due to yellow-leaf disease affecting the areca plantation, in the coming budget. 

He was addressing the protesters during his visit to the venue where members of Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene were staging an indefinite protest urging the government to fulfill their various demands in front of Sringeri taluk office. The protest has entered the 15th day on Monday.

Citing an example of his tenure as a chief minister, when he had waived off farmers loan upto Rs 2,500 crore despite not announcing the same in the budget, he said that the State government need not wait for the Centre to release the grant to respond to farmers problems. The State government will present a budget exceeding Rs 1,40,000 crore. Farmers are in distress. Considering the situation, the government should to waive off the loans, he said.

MLA C T Ravi who too visited the protest venue, said that life of people in Malnad is in doldrums for various reasons. “Those who promised of implementing Gorakh Singh Committee recommendations, should answer as to why they did not implement the report as promised. The forest is protected in Malnad owing to the efforts of farmers. The government which has to felicitate such farmers, has now indulged in throwing them to streets,” he criticised.

Taking a dig at the Central government, Ravi said it is unfortunate that the Centre has submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court terming areca as poisonous. In addition, it has also come forward to implement Kasturirangan report. If the elected representatives fail to address such problems, it will only pave way for anti-social elements to dominate. All political parties should come together irrespective of political differences to address people’s problems, he said.

Raitha Sangha State Secretary K T Gangadhar said that the government is favouring industrialists. Kadur MLA YSV Datta, Mudigere MLA B B Ningaiah, Congress leader T D Rajegowda, JD(S) State Vice President H T Rajendra and others were present.