‘Banks should not pressure farmers to pay loans’

Rajya Raitha Sangha Mathu Hasiru Sene Chikkamagaluru district president D R Duggappa Gowda has urged the state government to issue a direction to the banks to not pressurise farmers to pay the loans.

The farmers are in distress following heavy rain as well as prevailing drought in parts of the district.

Speaking to reporters he said a bank in Mudigere had filed a case against a farmer in the court, asking to repay the loans.

A few banks had warned the farmers of arresting them. The government should intervene and direct the banks not to recover the loans till the loan waiver amount reaches the banks, he added.

He condemned the move of the nationalised banks and scheduled banks to recover loans even when the state government has announced waiver of loans borrowed by the farmers.

He urged the DC to convene a meeting of the lead bank managers and farmer leaders.