CM calls Belagavi DC, SP over court notice to farmers

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has directed the Deputy Commissioner and SP of Belagavi district to protect the interests of farmers against whom arrest warrants have been issued for non-repayment of crop loans.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy on Sunday called up the DC and SP of Belagavi over phone and directed them to take steps to protect the interests of farmers. A Kolkata court had issue arrest warrant against 150 farmers who had availed crop loans from Axis Bank, but had not repaid them.

Kumaraswamy has sought a report on the cases registered. The chief minister expressed displeasure that some banks were trying to recover crop loans availed by farmers despite assurance from the government that all loans would be reimbursed in a phased manner.

In Davangere, Kodihalli Chandrashekar, president of the Rajya Raitha Sangha, said a statewide protest would be held on November 5 against Axis Bank, which has been issuing notices to farmers over crop loans, even after Kumaraswamy asking banks not to do so.