The Opposition parties on Wednesday said the state government’s decision to waive crop loans up to Rs 50,000 will bring “very little relief” to farmers and demanded that the amount be raised to Rs 1 lakh.

“We had anticipated loan waiver up to Rs 1 lakh. The decision to waive loans up to Rs 50,000 procured from co-operative societies is not a big achievement,” said BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa.

He said the government was forced to waive loans due to pressure mounted by the BJP. “The decision is an indication of the government’s plans to go in for early Assembly polls.”

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda echoed similar views. “ It’s not a big help. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab governments have waived loans up to Rs 1 lakh.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar termed the government’s decision a victory for the consistent efforts by the BJP.   Siddaramaiah should not transfer the financial burden to the next government. The Congress government should bear all the burden, he said.

JD(S) MLC and spokesperson T A Saravana said if the state government had waived  loans up to Rs 2 lakh, then it would have really helped farmers.

KPCC president G Parameshwara urged the BJP to pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi to waive farm loans borrowed from nationalised banks.

“As prime minister, Manmohan Singh waived Rs 72,000 crore agricultural loans. Despite the Centre’s step-motherly attitude in sanctioning drought relief funds to Karnataka, the Congress government has taken a bold decision and waived farm loans,” he said.