NITI Aayog: CM opposes proposal to levy tax on agri income

Terms it unfair on farmers as their income is uncertain

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has opposed the NITI Aayog’s suggestion to levy tax on agricultural income. He said that tax should not be imposed on any agricultural income as it is ‘uncertain’.

Siddaramaiah told reporters at the Mysuru Airport in Mandakalli near here on Saturday that, “Many farming families work in their fields to meet their own needs and if it is taken into account, there will be no income for farmers. That is why I removed tax levied on coffee growers also.”

‘BJP has no moral right’

When asked about BJP State unit president B S Yeddyurappa’s demand to waive off farm loans, Siddaramaiah said that Yeddyurappa has no moral right to demand a waiver.

“While Yeddyurappa is demanding waiver of farm loans, the Reserve Bank of India is opposing it.
“BJP MPs, including, ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda have not even raised their voice for waiver of loan in the Parliament. Instead of touring the drought-hit districts in the state, Yeddyurappa and BJP leaders should visit New Delhi and impress upon the union government to release funds to compensate the drought-hit farmers. The BJP leaders have started touring the state after rains set in,” he said.

“When Congress leader V S Ugrappa asked Yeddyurappa, during his tenure as chief
minister, to waive off farm loans in the Legislative Council, Yeddyurappa had said that he had no note printing machine. The document is available in the Council,” Siddaramaiah said.

Elaborating about the centre releasing funds for drought relief, Siddaramaiah said that as many as 139 taluks were declared drought-hit in 2016 and the state had sought Rs 4,702 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) but the centre has released only Rs 1,685 crore of the sanctioned Rs 1,782 crore. The authorities have already deposited Rs 1,500 crore into the farmers’ bank accounts and the remaining funds will be distributed soon, he said.
“This monsoon, as many as 160 taluks have been declared drought-hit and the state has demanded Rs 3,310 crore as per the NDRF guidelines but the union government has not sanctioned even a rupee. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a Rs 36,000 crore farm loan waiver as the state has other income from the union,” the Chief Minister said.

‘Disrespecting Dalits’

“The union government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not done anything worth a mention in the last three years. BJP leaders have no respect among Dalits and backward class people. They (BJP) don’t believe in social justice. BJP leaders are under the illusion that they can attract Dalit voters. BJP leaders, including Yeddyurappa, ate breakfast that was ordered from caterers at a Dalit's house during their ‘Jansampark Abhiyan’. It is a good example of the BJP’s anti-Dalit attitude,” he said.

IAS officer was under no pressure: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that he has written a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting for a thorough probe into the mysterious death of IAS officer Anurag Tewari in Lucknow recently.

Denying reports that Tewari, who was Commissioner for Food and Civil Supplies, was planning to disclose a scam of Rs 2,000 crore, Siddaramaiah said that there was no pressure on the officer either by Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader or by higher officials. Siddaramaiah told reporters here on Saturday that the UP government is investigating the case and that Karnataka state government would extend full cooperation to the investigating agencies.

In response to former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s suspicion of foul play behind the death of the officer, Siddaramaiah said, being a former Chief Minister he should not issue irresponsible statements.